'tv 



l^.^^. il^ li ^ 



Cibvnvti of Con9tf$i,*i. 

UNITED STATES OF A:MERICA. 




J^i^c^aiP iyCijii<^^ ij /j/SVJS 



ADMONITIONS 



FROM 



"THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH," 



OR 

THE FALL OF RAY POTT ER, 

IN 

TWENTY FOUR LETTERS; 

Written by Himself to liis Brother, 

NICHOLAS G. POTTER. 



Rejoice not against me O mine enemy when I fall, I shall arise.— 
Mieahy ch vii. v, 8. 

Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles shalt quicken 
me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 
Psalm LXXr, v. 20. 

Christ loves best, not him who has committed the fewest and the 
least heinous sins, but him who has the most penitent heart.-— Cremf 
Smithy pp, 98. 



«a^«ra^^ 



PAWTUCKET, SIASS. 
R. SHERMAN: ::::::printer. 

1838. 






Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 
1S38, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the 
United States, within and for the Rhode Island District. 



3^ ^r 



PREFACE, 



BY 



sg'ISOIII®ILiiffl ©0 ip^S'S^lIBo 



Perhaps none felt more deeply the wound than myself, on the 
news of the transgression and fall, of my sinning and unfortu- 
nate brother. Nothing, which I ever experienced, of the trials 
of this life, could bear a comparison, with the sensation it occa- 
sioned in my breast. This distress, was not principally occa- 
sioned, because he was my natural brother, but because he was 
my brother in the Lord; and because of the connexion which 
he held with the cause, which I hold dearer, than any earthly 
and natural ties. I mean the cause of Jesus. The wounding 
of this cause, wounded me; and caused me unutterable "pain. — 
Nor have I ever, for a moment, hesitated in the most unquali- 
fied manner, to condemn his sin, without the least palliation. 

But what could I do.^ Turn away from his penitential cries, 
and calls for mercy and forgiveness? No; I could not; I de- 
sired not thus to do. As I condemned him in his transgressions, 
and abhorred his sin, so I could but receive him in his penitence, 
when he implored my forgiveness. God commanded me thus 
to do. I still believe him to be a christian. Nor could I take 
the stand in respect to him, which many appear to take. That 
because he has sinned and fallen, he must not be permitted to 
speak the truth, in opposition to error. Some months after his 
fall, I advised him to employ his time in writing; as I conceived, 
that by his fall, and the transactions of the public respecting it, 
he was placed in a situation to bring out views, that would be 
serviceable to the cause of truth. He se^'med backward in un- 
dertaking — wrote a little, and lingered until his imprisonment, 
during which, he has furnished the following communications. 
I believe they contain much truth, and from that consideration, 
1 am in favor of giving them to the public. I do not hold my- 
self responsible for the facts which he states, in relation to the 
treatment he has received; as they are generally, not within 
my personal knowledge. 1 have reason to believe, however, 



that they are correct, and if they are not, those who are impli- 
cated, have a right to shew it. But as to his views, respecting 
the insiduous, hateiul loe of God, the gospel, and the souls of 
men, selj-righteousjiess, I agree mih him: and that his fall has 
developed, that the disease occasioned by it in the church, is 
alarmingly prevalent. Whether it is so extensive as lie imag- 
ines, I will not pretend to determine — of this, every reader must 
be his own judge. To shew that ic is so, however, seems to be 
his pro miJient aim, through the whole of these communications; 
and I confess, that he brings forward facts and arguments, in 
proof of his position, which ought to induce reflection and ex- 
amination, into the true state of the case. There is one point 
in the following communications, which I unqualifiedly believe 
with him — and that is: that the wrath which has been poured 
out upon him, since his fall, legal as well as illegal, is not for his 
** transofression" — but the wreaking of vengeance on his head, 
for the stand which he formerly maintained in delending truth. 
As he often intimates, in the following letters, I believe his suf- 
ferings have been, and still are, very great. 

1 hope he and his atiiicted family, will have the sympathies 
and prayers of the friends of the distressed. I am not at all sat- 
isfied, that the person who procured his indictment, and conse- 
quent sentence of six months imprisonment, after his confession 
of his sin, and prostration before God and man, in view of it, 
has acted the part of a minister of the gospel. In order to a 
proper understanding of the design of the following conimuni- 
cations, it is important to understand, that the first thirteen, 
are a history of transactions conner-ted with his fall: and the re- 
mainder, inferences J ostensibly designed, to throw light on the 
present state of the church, with the hope of doing good. If 
this is 7iot understood, the recital of many things in the narra- 
tive, might appear uncalled for; as an unnecessary exposure of 
the faults of others. The exiubition of his Phrenological char- 
acter, drawn by one of the most celebrated Phrenologists in the 
country, I hope will serve as a powerful antidote to Phrenologi- 
cal pride; and on this account, its insertion was called lor; and 
ought not to have been dispensed with. I hope, that those 
whose self-righteous pride, is flattered by their good PhrennJo' 
gical dev elopements, will especally, be ad*^monished by his reflec- 
tions on this subject, in his twenty-third communieation. — 
— But I forbear to enlarge. I hope the following letters 
will be read with candor; and I pray God, that they niav sub- 
serve the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom in the world. 

Coventry, Feb, mh 1837. NICHOLAS G. POTTER. 



A REQUEST 

Of the. People of Paw tucket. 
From the spirit of P Iwriseeisin and selfish Sectarianism, 
the Author of the following communications, expects no 
mercy — nor a candid hearing. But, he would invoke the 
attention, of the disinterested and merciful, o^ all sects and 
parties, and o^ those who have never attached themselves to 
any sect, to the foUowintr pages. Especially, does he ask 
this, of all such, in the Village of Pawtucket. Soon after 
my fall, it will be remembered, that J expressed a humble 
desire, yet to reside in Pawtucket; even if I must be 
obliged to occupy the lowest place amorig the people of 
God, and the lowest walks of life; in order to shew by my 
future walk, that, notwithstanding my sin and fail, I did 
love God and his cause. It was alledged, that I could 
not reside there, because of the mob — but, I soon clearly 
saw, that there was another power, behind the mohocratic 
throne, which was more determined against my residence 
there, than the thoughtless persons, who composed tlie 
mob! 1 alluded to this, in my address to the people of 
Pawtucket last spring — and this allusion was seized upon 
by many, as evidence of my impenitence. I think that 
l\\e facts exhibited in the following communications, will 
demonstrate, that I had good reason for such an allusion. 
The ostensible reason, urged by many professors, of relig- 
ion, for their conduct towards me, has been, their fear of 
countenancing the sin of licentiousness. I desire the Paw- 
tucket reader, after readmg the following pages, in view 
of this pretended reason, to ask himself the following ques- 
tion — '^ If after Ray Potter has made a humble confession, 
before God and man, and asked forgiveness, certam per- 
sons, are so afraid of countenancing or fellovvshiping licen- 
tiousness, that they can't bear the thought of his being in 
the church of God, nor in the place, how is it, that tlie 
same persons, can fellowship the person, designated by the 
name of Archippus, without any confession ?'''* This ques- 

*He denies having done any thing immoral. 



tion is a key ^ that will unlock a door, and shew the re^d^f^j 
at least, a part of that power, behind the mobocratic throne, 
already alluded to. It is said, that the man who preaches 
where I formerly did, gave it as his opinion, that 1 ought 
not to be fellowshiped under four years. Yet he most 
heartily fcllovvships Arciiippus. But, — Archippus and 
his party, have proposed to join his denomination^ and 
are about raising him four hundred dollars a year for 
preaching! O ye merciful of Pawtncket — this is a sped' 
men of that pretended fear, of fellowshiping licentiousness, 
that has crushed me into the dust, notwithstanding all of 
mynheer n inn- fo/ mercy ^ and demanded my banishment frotn 
your villatre, and indeed, beyond tl)e bounds of my native 
state. Will you countenance it? RAY POi'TER: 

ERPvATA. 

PageQl, sixth line from the top, for '^ soul" read " heart/' 
Page '24, last line, lor " suffering" read " sufferings.'' 
Page 28, fifteenth line from bottom, for '* xjet ' read " notV 
Pacre 40, thirteenth line from the top, for " notwithstand' 
ing''^ read ** on account of."^^ This is an important correc- 
tion. 

Page 50, ninth line from the top, take out the words 
^^ 6jy" and " /7s" so that tlie line will sfand thus — '* days of 
Christ and the »R:Jost/cs^ luoked upon Gentile sinners.'*'' 

Page 61, sixteenth line from the top, for ^'literally" 
read '* completely." 

Page 64, thirteentli line from the bottom, for ** excessive* 
ly'" read *' extremely." 

Page 74, before the word " trihyinaV^ read ^'Judicial." 
Page 81. The sentence marked with inverted commas, 
5th and 6th lines from the bolton), should be thus read — 
*' I have^covered up and covered up, his cheating and con- 
niving, until I have nothing bft to cover up with." 

PaJe^97, seventeenth line from the top, after the word 
^^ subdued" insert the words, " z'/i we," so that the sentence 
will read — '* sublaed in me^ at a less expense.^' 

Page 107, after the word ''indicted,'' twelfth line from 
the bottom, insert ti»e words, '' in this state."*' 

Page 129, for " Hopkinism'' read ^' Hopkinsian.^* 



CONTENTS. 



LETTER I. page. 

Introduction ; Reasons for writing ^c. 8. 

II. 

Natural disposition, 13. 

III. 

The manner of Jiis overthrow, 19. 

IV. 
Subsequent exercises ; Confession ; flees from the mob 23. 

V. 
Treatment received from man &c. ^d, 

VI. 
Farther account of atflictions and trials, S5. 

VII. 
Sarne subject cont/roued ; Indicted on the complaint of one 
of iiis old Ministerial friends, 45. 

VIII. 
Return to Pawtucket ; ordered out of the house where he 
had long resided ; great distress by being mobbed &c. 50. 

IX. 
Transactions of tlie church in relation to his case, 61. 

X. 
Imprisonment ; Tr msactions of the Church continued. 73. 

XL 
Transactions of Uie «^'hurch concluded, 84. 

X!I. 
Merciful treatmi sit * Letter of Gerrit Smith, 96. 



XIII. 

Same subject continued, 104. 

INFERENCES. 

XIV. 

The fallibility of man, 1C8. 

XV. 
Public Sentiment made the rule to judge of sin, J 14. 

XV[. 
The views which generally prevail respecting the Gospel of 
Christ, 120. 

XVII. 

The present organization as such [jave no fellowship for 
David, 132. 

XVIII. 
Destituton of the spirit of Clirist among liis professed dis- 
ciples. 137. 

XIX. 

Views of the present professed Christian organization, 143, 

XX. 

Developement of Sectarianism by his fall, 148. 

XXI. 
Answer to the question, " Will he rise again,'* 159. 

XXIf. 
Great lack in preaching the great atonement, 1G6. 

XX ni. 

Dangerous use of Phrenology ; Abolition, Colonization, &e. 

170. 
XXIV. 
Conclusion, 177. 



I. 

W^^- LETTER I. 

™ Pawtucket, June 10th, 1837. 

Ml/ dear Brother : — 

In accordance with your request, I under- 
take to write you something of an account of my great 
and disgraceful fall, and of my views and exercises, in re- 
lation to it. Before I proceed, you will permit me to say, 
without charging me with the guilt of flattery, that I es- 
teem as a great mercy of God, that I have a natural brother 
like 1/ou: one, who, while he gives no countenance to my 
sins, yet has treated n\Q mercifully ; in conformity with the 
example and precepts of Jesus; and with that natural af- 
fection, which the law of our nature dictates, and which 
true religion approves; and the destitution of which, ac- 
cording to the judgment of an Apostle, justly ranks a per- 
son, with the vilest of our race. I can assure you, that 
among the many painful considerations growing out of my 
transgression, that of having so deeply wounded your feel- 
ings, and those of my other relatives, is by no njeans, a 
trifling one. It has caused me great sorrow of heart. I 
pray God, to overrule it to all of your good; while he sup- 
ports you under it by his grace. Indeed, ifl did not fully 
believe, that God will ultimately bring glory to FIIS 
NAME, and the greatest good to holy beings, out of all 
the moral evil which has, does, or ever will exist, 1 should 
be inconsolable in my present situation: and ifl did not 
believe in the jrijinife atoncmtnt^ made by the Lord Jesus 
Christ for sin; and that G' d through the blood ofthe cross, 
can forgive and save, the very greatest of sinners, and not 
dishonor hijnself, [ should, in view of my great and heinous 
sins, sink into the depths of hopeless despair. You will 
not, my dear brother, make the disingenuous use of this 
remark, that, because 1 say, that God will overrule my sin, 



10 

and the sins of all his creatures, to his glory, and the 
greatest good of the universe, that I mean thereby in the 
leMst^ lo free myself from the guilt of it: — or, that 1 teach 
the doctrine, that we are from these views, to take the lib- 
erty to .sm, tiiat good may come out of it. No! God for- 
bid. I have no such views — no such feelings. These 
views, have never in any respect, produced an extenuation 
, in my own mind, oi' the guilt of my great and numerous 
sins and transgressions; or caused xve to doubt for a mo- 
ment, that for f'r/c/t and every one of them, I deserve eter- 
nal misery. But I ask, how could Paul be now happy 
in heaven, if he cleary saw, that by his sins in persecuting 
the saints, and his other sins, God's glory must be eter- 
nally lessened, and the holiness and happiness of the uni- 
verse, fore\er cut short? He could wo^ be. It is impos- 
sible, in the nature of things, for a disinter est td being, to 
be happy in such circumstances. Yet, shall it be said, that 
because Paul sees, that God has overruled his sins to the 
glory of his name, and the greatest good of the universe, 
that he, (Paul,) extenuates the guilt of his transgressions? 
Or, tliat he does not now look upon his sins in their own 
nature, in theme^elves considered, with the greatest abhor- 
rence? Or, that Paul would now tell us from heaven, if 
he could speak to us. to sin on freely, in order to have 
good brought out of it? Surely not: it would be the very 
height of blasphemy, thus to charge him Why then^ 
should /be charged with extenuating my own guilt, be- 
cause 1 express consolatiou in the belief, thai however I 
ought to be ashamed of my sin — however I, as an individ- 
ual, have pludt^ed niyself into deep disgrace by it; yet, 
God will gpt to himself honor, by what he will bring out of 
it; as he wjjl also overrule ir, to the general good of his 
people. Such consolation, is all which I can have. If I 
cannot have consolation from such views, I never can be 
happy: no, not in heaven! Iflweretobe placed there 
to-day, in the very midst of the paradise of God, with the 
(nil view and assurance, that throuoh my sins in this life, 
God aiid all his holy subjects, must sutfer an eternal loss, 



11 

I could not be happy. No matter, though my sins were 
all forgiven. No matter, though 1 should not be punished 
for them: if, through them, God's glory must be diminished 
and the holiness and happmess of the universe lessened, 1 
call but forever mourn: and I therefore reiterate, that I 
should be inconsolable, if I thought God would not bring 
glory to his name, out of my sin and shame, and conse- 
quent personal sufferings. 7%i5, is my comfort, let my 
personal disgrace and sufferings be what they may. I en- 
deavor to state these views to you clearly, for two reasons: 
first — because 1 know that some things which I have said, 
in a desultory manner, in relation to tbem, have been most 
unfairly and wickedly construed; as if I were laying the 
blame of my sin to God; and was not troubled in view of it, 
because I thought Gpd would overrule it for good: — and 
secondly— because I intend, as I give you the account pro- 
posed, to intersperse remarks and draw inferences, which 
will make it important for you, to keep the foregoing views 
and explanations in mind, in order to prevent misunder- 
standing. In what I may say, concerning ill treatment, I 
shall be as general as I can consistently, in my remarks; 
as I wish, as far as possible, to avoid the designation of in- 
dividuals, and shall therefore, studiously avoid calling 
nam«s. This rule I mean to observe, because I feel sol- 
emnly admonished, not to indulge in retaliation, which I 
think, has been a great fault of my past life, and because 
I do not feel disposed^ to unnecessarily expose the faults 
of those who hare tried to injure mc the most, or my very 
worst enemies. My object, my sole object, I trust, is, to 
exhibit truth to the glory of God, and the good of mankind. 
I would not, indeed, mention the conduct of persons, who 
have done, apparently, all they could, to sink a fallen man 
still lower, if it were not for the purpose of shewing the 
contrast, between the selfish heart otmafty and the heart 
of the forgiving and merciful Jesus: as well as to shew, 
that by my fall, one thing, at least has been developed, viz: 
that there is a gr«at lack among his professed people, ot 
the spirit of him, who was not ashamed to fellowship peni- 



12 

lent publicans and harlots. One thing, perhaps you are 
aware of; — it is generally considered, that I have now no 
right to speak the truth — 1 mean in respect to any one 
else: indeed, this is considered by many, as almost an in- 
fallible evidence of my impenitence; as you may have 
learned, was the consquence of a few words, in my address 
to the people of Pawtucket. When you first urgently re- 
quested me to write, I confess, that these things deterred 
me; but on reflection, I saw that if none were permitted 
to speak the truth, but those who had never sinned^ the 
world never would have had, nor ever will have, any mes- 
sages from God, through the instrumentality of men. And 
as it respects external transgressions, if such a rule were 
adopted, the olst Psalm, and indeed, all the writings of 
David, after his fall, ought to be expunged from the bible; 
as also, the preaching of Peter! I saw that there was no 
validity in the rule — that the hihle was expressly against 
it; and therefore consented in my mind, to comply with 
your request. God grant that in writing, selfishness may 
not dictate a single word; and that on the perusal of the 
whole, you may find nothing, fairly to be attributed to any 
other motive, than a sincere desire to advance the cause 
of truth, and the glory of God. One thing, I wish you 
to PARTICULARLY bear in your mind — I am not fighting my 
own battles; — but making use of my fall, and the circum- 
stances connected with it, for the purpose of exhibiting 
truth. If I know any thing of my heart, this is the leading 
motive. 

/ am most afectionately Yours, 

KAY POTTER. 



LETTER II. 

Pawtucket, Junk llru, ISSr. 

M^ dear Brother : — 

I think you will perceive in my fall, what 
no doubt, you have loug before been convinced is a sol- 
emn truth — that self-righteousness, tlie great idol and 
hope of this world, is as unsafe a thing to trust in for sal- 
vation; as are the dumb idols of the heathen ; and as un- 
worthy an object oi" adoration as one of the living, intel- 
lectual ones to which they pay great respect— 1 mean the 
devil ! Yet, unsafe as it is, to look to such a source as 
self-righteousness, to save us from the wrath of an offen- 
ded God, and as great an abomination as it is in his holy 
sight, for us to present it to him as a substitute for perfect 
holiness, or the blood of Jesus (the sinner's only hope) 
yet, self-righteousness, after all, is the great false God and 
hope of the world ; and a trust in it for salvation is contin- 
ually plunging multitudes into the bottomless pit! ** how 
it lives" and breathes '* and has its being" in the hearts of 
all the unregenerate ? And how soon after being driven 
out by converting grace, will it return^ to exalt in his own 
estimation the saint of God ; and thus provoke the heavy 
chastisement of his Heavenly Father! It is the last thing 
that lets go its grasp to let us come to the feel of Jesus. — 
It comes in number less ybr;?z5, assumes numberless posi- 
tions^ tells thousands of different stories — often talks 
against itself io guard against detection and if possible in- 
trudes itself into all of our thoughts, words and actions re- 
specting ourselves. I have often thought its character for 
life is well illustrated by that of a certain kind of Jish, ihnt 
after it is skinned, its head taken off, its boivels taken out, 
and its body severed in pieces, and deposited in the /ry- 
i/*^-/?aw will shew signs of life! Dangerous foe to the 
souls of men ! Sure damnation to all who are not saved 
from it! my brother does it reign in you? I hope aot. 
2 ■ " 



14 

Better, far better, had you be in my situation of degradation 
if such a situation might be sanctified to the weakening 
of such an abomination in the sight of a holy God than to 
possess the fairest character on earth while clad in heart 
with such a garment, witii ^uch jiltliy rags. And what is 
this self-righteousness on which so many are resting their 
hopes for a long eternity? Why its foundation is in the 
mere external conduct of man : and it substitutes the act- 
ing out of the mere aninial propensities, or what may be 
termed the natural disposition, for that holiness of heart 
required by the pure unbending law of God. Now, I de- 
sire to shew you, how, in my ca=?e this ** Dagon" of self- 
righteousness has been made to fall and lose its head : to 
my shame and disgrace certainly ; but to the glory of God 
and I hope the great good of my soul. In respect to nat- 
ural disposition £ may safely say that if any might hope'for 
the favor of God on such a ground 1 miiiht perhaps stand 
with them an equal chance: — yet where am I now? — 
Now as self-righteousness builds its hope principally on 
v/hat is termed the natural disposition or make; and as it 
is on the natural propensities that temptations to commit 
external acts of sin are fastened, I will give you an ac- 
count of my own natural make ; for the double purpose of 
shewing how easily the glory of such a righteousness may 
be spoiled; even in the view of man; and also of shewing 
more clearly the manner in which 1 was overthrown. S. 
N. Fowler a celebrated Phrenologist of New York, in the 
course of a conversation with him not long since inci- 
dentally gave me a most striking account of my nat- 
ural disposition. I was an entire stranger to him — and 
was raising some objections to the science when he did 
it, but was so forcibly struck with its correctness in many 
particulars, that I requested him to write it down. I will 
j^ive it to you in his own words as being as correct a de- 
lineation as I could give myself — and this I do without en- 
dorsing the infallibility of the science. Ai first thought, I 
felt a shrinking from giving you this account, but 1 think 
I soon traced this unwillingness to pride influencing me 



15 

with the fear that it might be construed into an attempt to 
patch up myself in my shattered state : but as the reverse 
is true, that is, I it^tend to shew that the best natural dls- 
position (not that I consider mine so,) that ever was pos- 
sessed by a fallen child of Adam, is nothing but a stench in 
the nostrils of a holy God when offered as a ground of hjs 
justification and salvation,! shall not hesitate. 'I he apostle 
takes a similar course in his epistle when he shews what he 
was before conversion in order to shew more clearly the in- 
sufficiency of self-riiihteonsness for salvation and to exalt 
the higher the glorious gospel. This is my sole object — 
and indeed the leading one from beginning to end of the 
account which I am undertaking to give you. Some of 
the terms of the Phrenologist are liable to misconstruction. 
For instance w here he speaks of bevcvolence he is not 
to be understood as meaning holiness : btit only natural 
!>cner()siti/, Theologically speaking, benevolence and ho- 
iness are synonymous — but certainly 1 never had any be- 
nevolence in this sense of the term until after I was born 
again. He speaks of my being religious from a boy. — 
This depends on whiit is meant by the term religion*— 
Most certainly I had no saving religion until I was about 
seventeen years old. My religion previous to that was no 
better than that of Paul's before his conversion ; in speak- 
ing of vv'hich he snys, After the straitest sect of our relig- 
ion I lived a Pharisee. But I premise no more. 

of the character of Ray Potter — by S, N. Fowler of N. Y* 

Mr Potter has an active temperament and is always busy. 
He is full of feelmg and thought. The most prominent or- 
gans in his head are conscientiousness, benevolence and 
firmness. He is very c Miscicntious and could not for his 
life be persuaded to do that which is wrong He is al- 
ways looking at the wrong and right and is sometimes 
over scrupulous about little things. On reflection he lets 
little sins swell into great ones, and would J^acrifice any 
thing and every thing for duty and principle. He bears 



16 

down upon the guilty and gives the wicked no peace.—* 
He is mild yet very strict. He draws nice distinctions be- 
tween right and wrong and is always enforcing truth and 
duty. He is not satisfied to have men do about right ; but 
wants every man to toe the mark and stand to his post. 

He is a bold soldier in every thing he undertakes. He 
generally hits, but sometimes aims too high but never too 
low. His moral courage is very great; he is very firm and 
sometimes stubborn. He cannot be made to change when 
he thinks he is right. He is deliberative but sure to ac- 
complish. He is slow to believe any thing new ; yet 
when he believes he does it with a whole soul. Benevo- 
lence being very large, he takes great pleasure in doing 
good and promoting the happiness of man. He always 
wishes to do good on a larc^e scale and is never backward 
but sometimes too forward and ready. He is liberal in 
his feelings and has considerable charity ; yet he is true to 
his church ajid is a firm disciple and a strong pillar. His 
benevolence being very large and his moral feelings gen- 
erally large united with strong ambition he would find it 
impossible to setile down and provide only for himself and 
family. He has always had a desire to engage in public 
business. His happiness is greatly augmented when he is 
doing goo.) to his country and proniotmg the spiritual wel- 
fare of mankind. His do.nestic feelings are all stronnr — 
he is very fond of friends, of his wife and children. He is 
always interested in the society of ladies and takes great 
pains to please and accommodate them. Pie finds it easy to 
secure their attention and affection and always pas.-^es well 
in their society. He is more inclined to cultivate the in- 
tellect of the <Uher (female) sex than to foster their pride 
and vanity. His philoprogenitiveness giving him parental 
feelings and a fondness for children he is well calculated 
to please and instruct th^m and promote their happiness. 
He is naturally kind to every thino- jn a helpless c ndition 
whether young or old He is a good provider and takes 
good care of domestic animals. His adhesiveness being 
large enables him to form strong attachments — a desire to 



17 

love, a propensity to associate and become attached. He 
is not only pleased to be in the society ofothers hut strong- 
ly inclined to associate and is very partial to his friends and 
is sometimes too much prejudiced in favor of his friends 
and party. He is spirited, forcible, active and V6 ry indus- 
trious. He is not fond of contention yet rather fond of de- 
bate and finds it difficult to sit down and converse without 
making an opponent He is always effectual in his meas- 
ures and is severe when necessary. He can be severe 
and is sometinjes sarcastic. Wlien he is excited be is too 
blunt and plam and expresses himself without due regard 
to time and place. Fie is more cautious about what he 
does than what he says, his caution being larger than his 
secretiveness. He can easily abstain from any kind of food 
which is injurious — and if he is a temperance man he is a 
whole hearted one — he neither touches tastes nor handles. 
Jle loves money for its means and regards it as the means 
of happiness and not as the end of Imppine.-s. He may be 
saving of property yet he gives liberally when he can ac- 
complish good by it. He is not very proud yet he is very 
ambitious to be distinguished as a moral man and^as a mc r- 
al leader. He takes pleasure in doing good for tlie sake 
of it and for the name of it. Approbativeness and consci- 
entiousness being large he is very zealous in every moral- 
cause and sometimes too enthusiastic. His future is very 
strong — he is constantly looking forward to a future state 
of existence and considering himself and others nothing 
but pilgrims in this world He never was disposed to re- 
ject the evidences of Christianity and the doctrines of the 
bible. Flis mind is always open to conviction. He would 
be liable to believe too much rather than too little. He is 
more of a philosoj)her than a poet and has more s< n- 
timental feeling than imaLnnation and fancy. His imita- 
tion is Inrtre — he? is considerably inclined to imitatf^, repre- 
sent and describe. In speaking he would use many ges- 
tures. He is a good b.anri to set off a subject and make it 
appear natural. He is quite a contriver and a great plan- 
ner, but is not s J good to execute or handle tools; he is more 



18 

of a theorist than a practitioner. His reasoning and moral 
faculties being strong he would be very fond of metaphysics 
and moral philosophy. He is always at home when talking 
on moral subjects. His general method of reasoning is by 
analogy and comparison. Veneration and comparison 
give him the disposition to compare the old testament with 
the new — and old times with the present — also to draw 
conclusions from what has been and what is, and thus to 
judge of the future. He has a great regard for antiquity 
and superiority, age and thin^rs sacred a^d holy. He is 
devotional in his feelings and was reliorious and strictly 
conscientious from a boy. He was always afraid of sin- 
ningj against God and doincr wrong. He alwavs believes 
in the providence of God — in signs and appearances and 
sees a great many resemblances between the old testament 
and the new. The judgments of G )d towards the ungod- 
ly and his special mercy towards the righteous and his gen- 
eral dealings towards mankind. He is always watching the 
signs of the times and is much disposed to prophesy. He 
seldom fails in his judcrment of what will take place ar.d 
can determine long before hand the result of things. His 
judgment is better than his memory — he can recollect 
thoughts and principles but not details. He can give 
ideas in his own language but not in the language of the 
author — nor can he recollect where or when he saw it. — 
He is a poor judoe of colors and sings more for his own 
amusement than he does to keep time in music or make 
melody. He is more of a thinker than an observer His 
language *is large — he is a great talker, he always has 
something to say, and is sometimes too wordy. Asa rea- 
soner he finds it difficult to keep his mind to the point and 
connect his thoughts and regulate his feelings. His first 
tho ights are always his best — his mind always gets con- 
fused by close and continued application, He is rather 
odd in his expressions and is sometimes witty. His moral 
sentiments have the ascendency over all the other facul- 
ties. iS. N. FOWLIlR, 

of N tie Y^jrk. 



19 

I think that yon, who have known me from my infancy 
will recognize this pictu'-e to be strikinjily correct in many 
particulars. I know it to be generally so : yet I know full 
well, that in all of it there is not one particle of holiness. — 
Still here is the God of the self-righteous — I mean this i« 
their saviour : and who among the Pharisaical throng had 
by nature a more shining God to worship than your now 
fallen and disgraced brother ? But few : still I have long 
known that it was a filthy thing in the sight of a holy God, 
and a stench in his nostrils when offered as our justifica- 
tion. I say I have long known it — and many, many times 
have been deeply afTected in view of it; yet after all self- 
righteousness would urge me from time to time even up to 
the day of my fall to look at this picture with seif-compla- 
cencency and boasting. How much have I sinned in this 
way ! My dear brother, beware : for I feel as if my fall 
in no small deorree is desi^rned as a chastisement for this 
sin. '' He that exalteth himself shall be abased" remains 
true and will so remain until e^ery saint is humbled in the 
dust and every proud itnpenilent sinner, thrust down to 
hell ! I praise God that he did not suffer me to go on in 
self-righteous pride, but has brought me down to his 
feet ; althouijji the stroke has been terrible to mvself and 
many others In my next I shall give you something of 
an account of this and the manner of my overthrow. In 
tlie mean time I hope you will be thankful for preserving 
grace and recollect "that in" us *' that is in" our ^'fle,<h 
dwelleth no good Ihtn^ l'"^ 

Your affectionate brother^ 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER III. 
Pawtucket, June 12th, 1837. 
Mi^ dtar Brother : — 

In my last I observed that it is on the natti- 
ral propensities that tenjptations to commit external acts of 



20 

pill generally take hold. In the description of my natural 
disposition, you observed that of stiong adhesiveness ena- 
bhng me tv fonn strong attaclunents ; a desire to love^ a 
propensity to associate and become attached.^^ Now, this 
IS strictly true of me. Never perhaps was there a person, 
more ardently attaciied to friends than myself. It has led 
nie, no doubt, to be blind to the failings and sins of cer- 
tain men whom I have for years most affectionately loved, 
to that degree that I have vvick<^'dly suffered sin upon theni 
and not rebuked them as I should have done. 'I his trait 
in my character, of strong attachment to friends, has not 
only been made a snare to me in respect to men, in the 
manner I have just hinted but in it was laid the snare, by 
the enemy of all righteousness, that finally resulted in 
my overthrow, and dreadful fall. Allhough, there was in 
this case from the first ^personal appearance that was pecu- 
liarly agreeable, yet the overwheiiuing force of the temp- 
tation seemed to lie in an exceedingly strong attachment, 
created by a course of christian conduct 'M\d extraordinary 
kindness to me. Never was the remark of a certain writ- 
er more completely illustrated than in my case — '^ even 
grace itself became a snare!" O that all would take 
warning and beware of this rock. Now the ground of my 
fall has hardly been understood at all — for those who have 
had it in their hearts to do me all the injurjf they could, 
have represented my character, to be that of a disposi- 
tion to indulge in illicit intercourse with the other sex 
where I could find liberty. God knows, there is not a word 
of truth in the allegation. In my confession I spoke of 
having been under temptations for about tefi years to com- 
mit that sin. Now I did not mean that in the whole course 
c.f that time I ever once ihouirht, that I should commit 
adultery — but that this sensual ijratification seemed ex- 
ceedingly pressing — and in this respect \ cannot be made 
to believe, perhaps, that ever a persui had so powerful an 
inclination for indulgence. O how plainly can I now see, 
that at this weak place s;jtan bent all olhis force to ovf-r- 
wiielm me ! It has been ^aid tliat i ought not to baa 



21 

gone in the way of temptation. That is very true — 1 ought 
not. And furthermore, I ought not to have suffered an 
unholy thought^ nor an inordinate desire to have place for 
a moment at any time nor in any circumstances. That is 
all true: and it is just ns true that every person oujzht 
every moment to give their soul to God. That the worldly 
minded professor ought this moment to turn his heart 
away from earthly objects and love God supremely. I am 
not denying what I ought to have done, but shewing what 
I did do : and how poor human nature in its vaunted glory 
was oyercome ; and that it will inevitably be overcome in 
every person under heaven, even to the conmiission of ex- 
ternal ^cts of wickedness if the temptation is suited to its 
appetite and if it be not rescued by tiie efficient agency of 
the spirit of God ! Instead of boasting, '' Lkt him that 

THINKETH HE STANDETH TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL." I 

could give a most extraordinary account ofmy peculiar cir- 
cumstances in relation to this subject but I forbear. A 
wrong construction might be put on many things and among 
others it might look like an attempt to extenuate the guilt 
ofmy transgression; and I wish never to do any thing of 
that kind. I have sinned and take to myself the whol^ 
guilt and slinme o^'ii\ without the least extenuation or pal- 
liation. As 1 was remarking \ never once thought, up to 
the time of my fail of commiting adultery — the external 
act; yet I knew that I was guilty of awfully sinning against 
God, especially in hearty accordmg to the declaration of our 
saviour Matt. 5 — 28. O how much of this will appear in 
those whose exterior is now fair, in the day of Judgment ! It 
caused me anguish of spirit which I can never describe. 
I now learned, by most painful experience the true import 
of the following expressions of the Ap' stle Paul in the 7th 
chapt. of Romans. ** For I deliiiht in the law of God after 
the mward man. But I see another law in my members 
warring against the law ofmy mind and bringing me into 
captivity to the law of sin vvhich is in my members. O 
wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from th« 
body of this death !" My dear brother, it does seem tc» 



22 

n.e that no soul ever had a mor^ painful experience U\nn 
myself in the warfare here described. How plainly did 
I see in the course of this terrible c(»nflict that the heart of 
man consists in exercises — and that the heart of a saint 
consists in a train of holy and unholy exercises. Sonie- 
tnnes I would rise upon the wiijgs ol love and faith; loathe 
and abhor ail unlioly thoughts, and feelings and desires 
wiih ulier abhorrence witich words cannot express, and 
anon be overwhelmed with the rolling waves of passion 
within. But 1 fell — and in a manner most extraordinary. 
I designed at first to give ynu a particular account here, 
but the cry of indehcacy from sonie ^;/my friends and some 
other considerations have stopped nie. Perha[>s it is as 
well : nevertlieless I greatly desired to state things more 
fully not only to ^hew the terrible conflict between con- 
scientiousness and the fear of lUnng wrong on the one hand 
and appetite on the other, but also to explain in relation to 
?. chirge vvliich some have n)ade against me o^ iyin<^ in re- 
lation to this transaction It any candid peisons wish for 
iurtlicr explanations here I vvill make them personally — and 
as for tl'-'-^e- ^vho iire greedy to charge rne with lying, r6- 
£,^ardless of any explanation I can orJy say laminiivantof 
the charge. 1 carincjt forbear adverting here to the injured 
person who fell with me in transgression. 1 consider my^ 
f^Aifar the must crimiiiai There liave been some few in- 
stances of those who I believe are friendly to me rep- 
resenting it otherwiso. Such representations are exceed- 
ingly unjust to her and grievous io my feelings — and 1 am 
giad to think that the generality of my friends have avoid- 
ed them. I h p(i you my dear brother and all my relo' 
fives will avoid ihem What can be nmre despicable and 
beneath honorable minds than to seek to excuse me by de- 
faming her — I know something of the eflflcts of such a 
course f^/ conduct by most bitter experience and I pray 
tbat you and all of my relaiives nniy be preserved from il. 
Lei me have the blame of all that belongs to me; only re- 
member to shew liKTry according to the connnand of God. 
But to return : was it my duty to make public Qonfession 



I 



23 

of this sin unless brouirht to light by (he providence of 
God? 1 certainly thoughi not, th n — and think so stilj : 
but to repent of it before God, and sin no niore. 1 have 
been condemned by some because I did not make it pub- 
lic — but I considered that I had no rioht to do so on ac- 
count of the other party if nothing more: and I acted ac- 
cordingly, I humbled myself before God in view of what 
I had done and implored forgiveness. 1 cannot express to 
you the anguish of my soul for months; nor the earnestness 
with which I sought the divine favor. I implored an in- 
terest in the prayers of God's people and improved every 
opportunity to engage with them in social prayer, that God 
would have mercy on me, and preserve me from the tri- 
umphs of Satan and an ungodly world. Many, no doubt 
now recollect these strong importunities and supplications 
although they were then unconscious of the reason of my 
great distress. I eventually did find great divine support. 
T7ia^ God, who washes away the crimson sins of all whc. 
humble themselves before him and supplicate his mercy, 
in the name of Jesus had mercy on me — and before I knew 
the r^.sw/^ of the transaction, I enjoyed, I humbly hope, 
the divine favor, and felt given up to God in a manner that 
I had not for years before. During this time, I most ear- 
nestly begged of God that my conduct might not be made 
public, to the great dishonor of his cause and the rendin^^ 
of the hearts of thou^sands of his people. But he determin- 
ed otherwise. Your afectionate Brother, 

RAY POTTER, 



LE'ITER IV. 

PavvtuckeTj June 17, 1887, 
My char Brother : — 

You will not expect me to give you an ade- 
quate description of my feelings when I was assured of the 
result of my sin. 1 think you will readily apprehend, that 
this would be impossible. You may conceive more, much 
more than I can convey in language ; and after all, youf 






24 

conceptions or those of any other person but myself must 
be vague and imperfect. In this case, it may be said with 
llie uirnost propriety that my ' soul knew alone its own bit- 
terness. Having been converted to God for four and twen- 
ty years, 1 had ever loved his precious cause. Sirice 1 had 
been a preacher, no temptation of this worlds good, or ease; 
nor the approbation of man had ever been able to turn 
uie aside from that course of duty which I conceived to be 
required at my hands; but after all 1 had sinned and fallen! 
Yes 1 \\i\(] fallen. Then, the wound inflicted on the dear 
cause of God, was held up to my view in an aspect most 
heart rending and overwhelming. Then, did a sense of 
the injury inflicted on the person who had fallen with me, 
and the family, most of whom I sincerely loved roll over 
my distressed soul like the mountain waves of the storm 
troubled deep — then, did my mind anticipate the dreadful 
intelligence, as it would fall on the ears of thousands of 
distant friend?, made dear to me by long intimacy in the 
cause of A nti Slavery, and other benevolent enterprises. 
Then did I look on my poor aflflicted wife and family, in 
Yiew of what was coming with such feelings of soul, and 
unspeakable heart aching sympathy, as I pray God you 
may never know by experience. Ah, ivhat would not have 
melted^ with a full view of my wretchedness in that awful 
hour.'^ any thing but the heart of man ! — But O the Church 
— the Church! The fruit of seventeen years toil! Never 
were a Minister and Church more closely united ; and 
never was love for each other more reciprocally sincere, 
aiid deep rooted perhaps : — cemented by a thousand com- 
m)n trials and deeply engraven with the pen of afflictiori 
on my heart and I trust on theirs — and must this message 
fall on their ears? Yes it must! Dear brother, how can 
1 help weeping as long as I live, even io think of the thou- 
sand streams of anguish svhich from various sources poured 
in upon my poor oppressed soul in view of the promulga- 
tion of my sin to the world/ And what could ever have 
snpporied me, but the gracious hand of a most merciful 
God! As to my own suffering, at the hand of man, al- 



25 

though those in my estimation were small when compared 
with other results ; yet I had good reason to believe they 
would be great. My whole course, as a preacher, had been 
calculated to awaken against me the indignation and wrath 
of multitudes. You know the course I pursued in relation 
to masonry. How much wrath was pent up in the 
hearts of thousands, ready to seize every and any opportu- 
nity to burst upon me for the part I acted in relation to this 
institution. I had been most actively engaged, from an 
early date, in the cause of Anti-Slavery which had rendered 
me extremely obnoxious to the indignation of many, who 
disregarded the rights of the abused people of color. I had 
unsparingly condemned, in my preaching, whatever 1 con- 
sidered wrong doctrinally and practically, which had offen- 
ded great multitudes and my peculiar situation as stand- 
ing aloof from all denominations rendered me a most loath- 
some object in the view of strong sectarians. Now, I 
could but foresee (what has come to pass) that the mo- 
ment my sin and fall were made public, all of the longcon- 
tracted hatred and disposition to revenge, which from these 
various causes had been accumulating against me would 
burst upon me under the pretence of condemning me for 
my sin. Can you, in imagination, place yourselfin some- 
thing like my situation before my confession.^ with all these 
scenes before me? O it was a situation indeed of which 
1 know you cannot form adequate views : and why should 
I, put you to fruitless toil — 1 leave it. But through the 
mercy of God I did not hesitate. From the very first mo- 
ment that I was assured of the true state of the case I was 
determined on an honest scriptural confession, and to leave 
the consequence with God. I had before determined to 
ein no more; and 1 as fully now determined to make a pub- 
lic confession of my sin, and ask forgiveness of all whom I 
had injured by my transgression. What more could 1 do? 
Nothing. And did not duty call me to do this ? I thought 
»o then and think so still: — yet strange as it may appear, 
I was condemned by some for what was thought thia early 
confession. It was argued that in the providence of God, 



26 

things might transpire which would preclude the necessity 
of making it pubHc; and thus those who would be affected 
by it, saved from disgrace. But I considered the circum- 
stances of the case such as then demanded a public con- 
fession — and without evasion or delay 1 determined to 
make it. Accordingly I wrote a confession* to the church 
with a request that it might be read at the first meeting, 
and in pubhc on the next sabbath. I confessed my sin ver- 
bally to my wife and children who were at home, and be- 
sought their forgiveness; and wrote to my children who 
were absent. I sent you the heart rending news by letter 
immediately: and I also sent in a confession to the Bap- 
tist church in this village, with a request that it might be 
read before the church and congregation on the Sabbath, 
'^rhis request however was denied. On Saturday evening 
I went personally, before the church. what an evening, 
what a meeting was this! I followed the spontaneous 
feelings of my soul on that solemn evening in my conduct; 
and conversation. I first made a statement of my case and 
and implored mercy and forgiveness. I then felt moved 
upon to fall upon my knees in their midst, and ask mercy 
of them; and finally to address every individual personally, 
with a confession and petition for forgiveness. When their 
minds were expressed, all said by rising, that they freely 
forgave me but two. But this act o'i forgiveness was taken 
back subsequently by some of them, of which I may more 
fully speak at another time. Now the storm began to burst 
upon me with all its wonted fury ; and in view of persoi al 
danger, by the hand of violence, I left my family and home, 
to find a refuge under the roof of some merciful friend: 
and hope dictated that your house dear brother, would un- 
der God be such a covert as I needed, in mV wretched con- 
dition. Thanks be to God that I was not disappointed. — 
But what were my feelings, views and exercises, in this 
hour of deep degradation in view of the world } in the day, 
of, as one says my *^ great and dreadful fall." And here 
the account which I shall give you, will hardly appear 
credible:—^ nevertheless 1 shall tell you the truth.' Con- 
*See Appendix. 



27 

sider my situation when on my journey to your house. A 
few days before I was called (imprudently tobesure) by 
my friends the John Bunyan of the age ; now, none more 
degraded scarcely than me! But yesterday and many 
seemed to think me almost infallible in my religious walk ; 
now, almost all were ready to look upon me as corrupt root 
and branchj and from first to last, an arrant hypocrite. But 
yesterday, multitudes were ready in various ways to seek 
my approbaiion and as.^istance, to day, scarcely the mor- 
tal to be found, who is not ashamed to be found in my 
company. But yesterday and I was eulogized from the 
press, as emment for moral courage in the vindication of 
truth, and an undeviating attachment to the cause of religion 
and humanity; to day the '' song of the drunkard" '* a by 
word and reproach" among the people wherever I was 
known: — forsaken by almost all who had formerly professed 
to be my friends — threatened by the mob with personal vi- 
olence — poor and destitute of a dollar on earth that I could 
call my own ; and this in the dead of winter; and obliged 
in such circumstances to leave my poor, afflicted and heart 
broken family. I say consider this and you will be aston- 
ished that on my journey to your house, I distinctly had 
this reflection '* that I would not so far as my oivn sovVs 
state was concerned be placed back where I was six months 
before, if 1 could, by saying so, have effected it. This dear 
brother is true. For years had I at times besought God 
most earaestly lo make me more like Jesus Christ— and for 
months before my fall, I with great earnestness begged 
God to accomplish this in me, let it cost me ichat it would 
in this life; and I now felt that this most desirable of all 
things was accomplished in me. O my brother the time 
had not been for years when I felt so completely given 
up to God, as I did when on that lonely journey to your 
house, with the loss of almost ev^ry thing, that those who 
hope for enjoyment in the things of this life, think desir- 
able. Yes surely ^ the day of my fall in the view of the 
world J was the day of my rising with my saviour and God I 
how little does man know how God views things. These 



28 

exercises, were not the result of an unconsciousness of my 
great sin against God; nor of the great injury it had in- 
flicted on his cause, and on my friends and fellow men — 
nor, that I did not reaUze the great calamity it had brought 
upon myself No; I had a heart rending view of all thasc 
things, and felt most sensibly what one said in respect to it; 
that mine was '' a great and dreadfulfalV^ But these origi- 
nated in an assurance, that there was then nothing between 
me and my God — that the snares which had so long dis- 
tressed me, and hindered my spiritual enjoyment and con- 
formity to Christ, were destroyed ; and that my destruction 
had proved my salvation! my dear brother, how para- 
doxical must this statement appear to those who know noth- 
ing of the warfare of a christian ; who, while contending 
with fleshy lusts is often made to cry out, *^ O wretched 
man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this 
death?" but to those who know something by experience 
of the weight of this burden, who are often made to cry out, 
*'when I would do good, evil is present with me," and 
who often pant for deliverance, with groanings that cannot 
be uttered and often feel as if they were willing to '* suffer 
the greatest evil rather than commit the least sin, "I say un- 
to such, the account which I here give of my exercises may 
yet be wholly unintelligible. Let me not be understood 
here as teaching, that we may do evil, that good may come. 
I abominate such a sentiment — you will remember my pre- 
liminary explanations. But the fear of being by some 
falsely accused of this, shall never induce me to hide the 
glorious truth that God can and does overrule evil for good, 
and bring glory out of it to His holy name : and one thing 
do 1 know — yes I know hy experience that my dreadful fall, 
through the boundless riches of grace in Christ Jesus, had 
this salutary, effect on my soul Nor was this a momen- 
tary transitory emotion ; but has been abiding with me 
ever since. While dwelling in your house, I gave you 
something of an account of my exercises; and since then 
my enjoyment in God has not decreased. Driven off from 
©very thing else — in almost an unparalleled manner, made 



2S 

A target for the whole artillery of earth and hell to shoot 
at, at pleasure, and for their own amusement, I have found 
Jesus to be unto me as an hiding place from the wind a 
covert from the tempest and the shadow of a great rock in a 
weary land." O how precious has his word been to me 
in the day of my calamity? especially the book of Psalms. 
In the merey of God, through the infinite atonement made 
for sin by the great Redeemer, is my only hope; and in 
the light of his glorious promises to the vilest of sinners, 
who repent and turn to Him, do I see light; and hope for 
eternal life! O thou merciful God how true it is that thy 
mercy endureth forever; and that there is no other name 
^iven under heaven, or among men, whereby we can be 
saved but by the name of Jesus. All our righteousness is 
as filthy rags and our salvation is of the Lord. So indeed 
can / say with the utmost propriety; and that it may ever 
be with commensurate humility. Having shewn you some- 
thing of the dealings of God with me in the hour of my 
great affliction and calamity on account of my sin, I shall 
in my next, give you a limited account of the treatment I 
have received at the hand of man. 

/ remain most affectionately Yours^ 

KAY POTTER. 



LE rTER V. 

Pawtucket, June 26, 1837. 
31 1/ dear Brother : — 

In my last, I promised to give you in my 
** next, a limited account of the treatment 1 have received 
at the hand of man since my fall." Let me premise, that 
in doing this, I have no consciousness of being actuated by 
any other motive than that of exhibiting truth, in order that 
error may be corrected and God glorified thereby. I think 
J am not at all influenced by a spirit of revenge, or, ani- 
mosity towards any individuals. I shall call no names; — 
and to avoid personalities indirccth/, I shall be move gen- 
eral in my remarks than I otherwise should be. But I 



30 

cannot withold this general statement. As t have already 
hinted the reflection that I myself have sinned, does not 
in my opinion make it my duty to hide this part of the story 
— for, if none but those who have never siime^!, must be 
permitted to declare the truth, why, then, the mouihs of 
all men must be shut; and we^must look for an angelic mis- 
sion to accomplish so desirable an ohje^ct. 'J'obesure, I 
am ashamed of my fall — I abhor my sin that occasion- 
ed it; and feel utterly unworthy to speak at all in reference 
to the cause of God and truth; but, if by my fall '* the 
thoughts of many hearts have been reveaied,'' and if in 
consequence of it great and important developments have 
been made, in respect to the present state of the professed 
Christian Church, most certainly such developments ought 
most wisely to be improved — and for the accomplishment 
of this end i/ou desired me to write you — and in comply- 
ing with your request, 1 have no other object in view. 

You well know, what the declarations of a gracious God, 
are, in respect to the vilest of sinners who turn to HIM 
and cry for mercy: — that he will receive them mosr freely 
— ^^ blot out their sins as a thick cloud;" '' abundantly 
pardon" them; and make them as white as snow whose 
sins have been of a scarlet and crimson die. You know, 
that he has given practical demonstration, of the sincerity 
and truth of these declarations under the old as well as 
new Testament dispensations by receiving graciously the 
greatest of sinners, who had not previously been converted; 
as he did also those who had backslidden from him and 
had fallen into the grossest immoralities. Look at Manas- 
sah and David: look at Mary Magdalen and the penitent 
thief, and see but an epitome of the '' glory of his grace" 
in the salvation of the chief of sinners: and of the conduct 
oC him who most certainly is a safe example for his pro- 
fessed disciples to imitate, in their conduct towards their 
fellow men. But, what was the conduct of the great body 
of christian professors towards me in the day of my fall, 
while confessing my sins to them, and humbly imploring 
their forgiveness? It is with the utmost grief, that I stale 



it to you — my God krrovvs that I would gladly passj't by 
and never even whisper it to you if I did not think that it 
exhibits a stale of things in the Church that most imperi- 
ously calls for correction. What, then, was that conduct? 
Why, that of dcnyincr me mercy! and that which was di- 
rectly calculated to drive me to despair of the mercy of 
God forever; or, of any favors ever being shewn me by 
man! You know^ i\\\it one great object which all professed 
christians, projess to have in view, is, to be instrumental 
in the salvation of sinners: especially, is this the business 
of ministers; but I testify that the course of conduct pur- 
sued towards me was directly calculated in itself con side rid 
to sink my soul in endless despair! This, I say in view of 
that day when I must meet my God and render a strict ac- 
count of what I now state. It is a truth that out of the 
five or six hundred christian professors in this region, not 
more than perhaps ten or twelve, excepting- those of the 
church of which I was pastor, have ever spoken to me a 
single word of mercy — nor have they ever come near me : 
— but, inasmuch as there can be no neutral ground in re- 
spect to this case, any more than in respect to any other, 
their whole influence has been calculated Xosinkme — and 
this would have certainly been accomplished, if a God of 
infinite mercy, had not vouchsafed to me an assurance of 
HIS favor which men nor devils could not invalidate. No 
thanks to them that I am not by their frowns driven to des- 
peration — no thanks to them that I am not '' swallowed up 
with overmuch sorrow." Suppose, if as many have seem- 
ed determined to make the public believe, that I always 
had been a hypocrite, when I appeared before them im- 
ploring mercy and forgiveness, was it not their duty to 
have labored with me in the spirit of him who brought 
them to repentance, and to have tried also to have brought 
vie to repei tance? Suppose my repentance was not gen- 
uine; and I had no true humility; was it not their duty to 
have labored with me to convince me of my delusion; and 
to have saved my soul? Surely I have an immortal soul ; 
and such a time ought to have been considered afavora 



.12 

hie one, to have been instrumental in saving it. But no 
attempt of this kind, dear brother, was made by this vast 
body of the professed disciples of him who came into the 
world to save the chhf of sinners. They came not near 
me — not a single settled minister of the gospel in all this 
region came near me — I sent my confession to them, and 
thereby (us 1 could nnt have the privilege to walk the 
streets to do it personally,) I fell at their feet and asked 
them to forgive me; and the rttuni has been, at best, a si- 
\^Vi\. frown driving me away from their doors of mercy, atid 
in numerous instances a most apparent readiness to aggra- 
vate the circumstances of my fall, and thus to plunge me 
lower and lower in the depths of wretchedness and wo. — 
It is difficult to make me believe, that there ever has been 
a case, of the fall of any person, concerning which so many 
utterly unfounded statements have been made, as that of 
your sinning brother. You have knowledge of this in 
part; but the whole extent of it is beyond your conception. 
To these statements, however false, ministers and profes- 
sors in general have seemed to lend a ready listening ear, 
and to draw inferences of my crimmality accordingly, with- 
out hearing aicordfrom me hi/ way of denial or explanation. 
In multitudes of instances, the reports would be *' lies out 
of whole cloih," in others, caricatures, distortions and mis- 
constructions; like an instance which I alluded to in my 
^' Address to the People of Pawtucket," respecting certain 
covenants which you have undoubtedly read. iN ow I ask 
you in all candor, if this is the way that a man in my situ- 
ation should have been dealt with? What, if it should 
finally appear in the great day of God, that I had been a 
child of God more than twenty years — that I had spent 
many days and years in his service — that, though I had 
greviously sinned against God and wounded his cause, yet 
i was truly penitent, and had found forgiveness with God 
and was owned by him as freely as was the returning 
prodigal — I say, suppose all this shall appear to have 
been the true state of the case when I made my confession; 
in that day when God shall judge the secrets of all htarts, 



33 

I ask, how will these persons meet iheir conduct in peace? 
Did i not come to their feet? Did I not confess my sin? 
Did I not implore their forgiveness? Did not the word of 
Godi commnnd ihexn to forgive me? Connected wiih the 
awful denunciation that **they shall have judgment without 
mercy who will shew no mercy?" But 1 digress. God is 
the judge; and I beseech him to brino^ those to repentance 
who have sinned in respect to this awful case and save 
theni from future wrath. I again reiterate, that I make 
not this statement from a spirit of retaliation — but for the 
sole purpose of bring-ing into view what I have found by 
most bitter and sorrowful experience to be lamentably lack- 
ing in the professed church of God. I mean the spirit of 
Jesus — or, in other words the spirit of mercy and forgive- 
ness, I shall not enter into a detail of particular instances 
of unmerciful dealings with me. The transactions are 
most of them fresh in the public mind: and, I could not 
thus do, without pointing out many individuals as definite- 
ly as if I were to call their names. I will only say that in 
many instances those who have held me hy the throat with 
the most inexorable grasp, have been those who themselves 
have been guilty of similar transgressions. But why this 
course of conduct towards me? I have already given you 
a clue to it. My peculiar course before my fall solves 
this question. Now was an opportunity, under the color 
and with (he pretence of condemning me for my. sir?, of 
pouring retaliating vengeance on my head for my anti-ma- 
sonic and anti-slavery course. Now was an opportunity 
under the color of acting with a holy indignation against 
my sin for many at least to let me die, and so be out of the 
way of those who had been troubled with my course in 
standing aloof from, and finding fault with their different 
denominations. Now was an opportunity for those who 
had long harbored grudges against me because 1 had con- 
demned their sins, under the pretence of opposing me for 
my wickedness, to visit with wrath the man that had once 
reproved them: And now ESPECIALLY was there an 
opportunity for those who did not dare to imitate Jesus, 



34 

who in spite of the bad name which the self righteous 
Piitirisees gave him for it, would show mercy and feliow- 
sliip to penitent publicans and harlots. 1 say now was an 
opportunity for those who did not dare to imitate his con- 
duct to EXCUSE THEiMSELVES FOR NOT DO- 
ING IT UNDER THE PRETENCE OF FEARING 
THE FELLOWSHIP OF INIQUITY ! In short, per- 
haps no man could have been found in the whole land, who 
in a fallen state like me, combined so many obstacles from 
the selfishness of man, to his rising again as myself: and 
none more unlikely to engage efforts from any other source 
than that oiW\Q most disinterested love, for his restoration. 
And may we not see the hand of God in this? that the real 
state of the church of God and the heart of man might be 
made more fully to appear in their dealings towards a fel- 
low sinner in such a forlorn state? my brother, how 
little of this precious disinterested love to God and man, is 
to be found even in the heart of the Church of God! Who 
can tell what a vast amount of what in ordinary cases pas- 
ses for the pure religion of Jesus, will be found at last to 
be nothing but selfishness in disguise! However, let us 
hope for the best. Do not once think, that I mean even 
to intimate that those who have offered me the treatment 
at which [ have just hinted in the day of my calamity, are 
all destitute of religion. No — ^God forbid — I hope better 
things- — still, such a course of conduct is alarming; and 
most certainly affords reasonable ground to fear, that many 
who stand fair in the christian church, having never sinned 
as / have, are after all destitute of the " spirit of Christ," 
and consequently can be ** none of his;" and that even 
real christians are generally much infected with the leaven, 
oftlie Pharisees — I mean self righteousness; which al- 
ways is accompanied with an unforgiving dispr»sition of 
heart. j\lay God open the eyes of his people to see this 
great sin in the church; which all of our moral reformers 
have overlooked. 

I remain YotirSf 

RAY POTTER. 



35 



LETTER VI. 

Pawtucket, Sept. 27th, 1S37. 
My dear Brother : — 

The contents of my last, were painful fer 
me to relate, as they were no doubt, distressii-g to you lo 
contemplaiOj and the recital ofthem in the hearing of llio.^e 
whom they implicate, would, no doubt be urged by them 
as irrefragable proof, that I am entirely destitute of humil- 
ity in view of my own sin. Be it so; then assuredly these 
persons ought to be consistent and reject all the Psalms of 
David written after his fall which in any way reprove others, 
for their sins. Be it so, that the recital ofthem proves 7??e 
destitute of humility — and that I have ?iow no right as some 
ofthem have asserted to use an argument, (!!) yet, this 
will never disprove, that these facts themselves, are an in- 
controvertible argument, that they have gone counter to the 
plain command of God in their treatment of me. If not 

what is meant by that expression of the apostle Paul 

*' Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are 
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of MEEK- 
NESS; CONSIDERING THYSELF, LEST THOU 
ALSO BE TEMPTED." If not, what mean the many 

pointed declarations of the Savior of the same import 

and especially of that one where, as if to guard against all 
the excuses which an unforgiving spirit would be hkely to 
resort to in order to get clear of this duty, the great Re- 
deemer connects the obligation of forgiveness with the of- 
fenders own testimony — i( he SAYS he repent thou shalt 
forgive him — and to forgive him too as God for Christ's 
sake forgives us: — which certainly means nothing less than 
receiving him into our fellowship. I say, if this conduct to- 
wards me has been right what mean all these commands > 
They are null and void! But are they! No! The awful dec- 



36 

larations of Christ recorded in the last part of the 18th 
C. of Matthew, in the parable, yet remains to be the word 
of God: and not a christian duty is more clearly stated in 
the whole bible, nor more solemnly urged by the threat- 
ning of damning penaUies, than this ol the forgiveness of 
those who cry to us for mercy. And yet, multitudes 
^eem to think that they may live in the habitual transgres- 
sion o^ this command, with all of its concomitant aggrava- 
tions, and die peacefully and go to heaven! But Christ 
says that HIS word shall judge us in the last day: and 
what does his word say concerning every one who will not 
from his HEART forgive his brother his trespasses? — 
Surely, if such may go to heaven, then may habitual impen- 
itent adulterers, thieves, liars, and murderers go safely 
there ; if we judge by the word of God — but I digress 
again ; and rather anticipate an improvement which I*in- 
tend, of this melancholy story. I shall delight to tell you 
presently, of some admirable exceptions in the conduct of 
a number of persons to that which 1 have been describing 
— most beautifully illustrating xhejiature of the religion of 
Jesus; breaking forth in forgivmg mercy to a poor fallen, 
wretched and imploring sinner. This to your view, will 
be like a beautiful Oasis in the midst of a barren desert; 
and will no doubt serve to lead your mmd again, as I doubt 
not it often has been led before, to admire the forgiving 
mercy of the adorable Jesus in washing away your own 
sins in his own most precious blood. But before I proceed 
to this, I beg the privilege of making a farther statement of 
some of the afflictions and trials which followed me after 
my fall- — that the great mercy of God in my preservation, 
from being entirely swallowed up, may appear the more 
glorious. I cannot however be very minute; and as for 
fully portraying all, which my soul has endured, that I have 
already intimated to you isoutof the question. Great have 
been my sufferings; but /io?/; great you nor none else can 
evei know but by experience. God save you from svch a 
knowledge. After my confession was publicly read and 
the note of triumph had rang through the ranks of those 



who are ever watching* for the halting of God's people; ar- 
rangements were speedily made by a number of them for a 
public demonstration of their joy. I was notified by a 
neighbor that the moh had determined on a regular ** turn 
out;" and that personal violence was strongly talked of, and 
threatened. Friends, advised me to leave the place for 
fear of injury; and as I have already hinted, and as you 
very well know, I pitched on your house as a refuge from 
the storm. There was a " turn out" on the evening after 
1 left: and all was done, which could be done to deepen 
my disgrace, and deepen the wound which my great sin 
and fall had made in the hearts of my family and friends. 
One of my sisters who resided in the place, being out of 
health with a nervous complaint, was almost driven to dis- 
traction by their proceeding?. After marching through the 
place and making sundry exhibitions to disgrace me, I was 
burnt in effigy in front of the meeting house where I had 
formerly preached. JNow commenced the open triumph of 
the powers of hell over me. As I have already hinted the 
reason alledged for these proceedings was my sin; and yet 
it was ascertained that some of tlie leaders of this ^' sin 
avenging" company were most notorious for their licen- 
tious lives. If I had persisted in my sin — refused confes- 
sion and scorned to ask forgiveness, I should have been 
upon a par with some of them and they would no doubt 
have treated me with due respect; but my determination, 
although I had sinned, to sin no more and in future to live 
c> life of godliness was what they hated, and was the real 
ground, together with what good I had done of their fiend- 
ish proceedings. Their names and their work, are all known 
by HIM before whom they must all appear in that day 
when HR shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. 
The proclamatiun now made by many was that I could not 
dwell in Pawtucket because of the mob. This talk was 
not from the mob themselves, but from those who prof essecf 
to deprecate their proceedings; but, who in ri^iany instan- 
ces, were the real or principal causes of all the mobbing I 
l^ave suffered. It ought to be well understood by man, 
4 



38 

as I believe it is by the Judge of all the earth, that the 
most guilty authors ol" mobs are not the miserable short 
sighted and profligate rabble, who shew themselves, as ac- 
tors in the scene, but men, who stand behind the curtain, 
pretending to condemn mobs and yet by their doctrine 
create them. This has been most clearly illustrated in 
the mobbing of abolitionists in the course ofthe great Anti- 
Slavery conflict, which has been going on for some years 
past in this country. Selfish and interested men, high in 
ouice and repute, in church and state, would maintain that 
tliey had no right and ought not to agitate the subject of 
slavery; which in the minds of the mob was altogrether 
sufficient reason to inflict upon them personal violence; 
and then, after the mob had practiced in accordance with 
the doctrine which these men preached behind the curtain, 
the abolitionists by the same men would be accused of 
causing mobs! In my case certain persons were deter- 
mined from selfish motives, (as 1 think I shall clearly shew 
you in another communication) ?hat I should no longer 
dwell in this place. Not that they were troubled that I 
had sinned against God; but that if I stayed here, fallen 
and dead as I was, I should be in the way of the accom- 
plishment of their plans. Now, you know, that in less 
than two minutes after I first arrived at your house you. 
expressed it as your decided opinion that I ought still to 
reside m Pawtucket, to live down as far as possible the re- 
proach which my sin had brought upon the cause of relig- 
ion: — that where a person had sinned, there, he ought, by 
his future conduct, to shew his penitence and reformation. 
This I believe to be the doctrine of impartial benevolence 
and disinterested love; but it was jioi the doctrinee of the 
persons alluded to above: their doctrine was that 1 had no 
right to stay here. If they admitted that I had a civil 
right, they contended that I had no moral right — that is, 
that it was religiously or morally wrong. They constantly 
blew the trumpet tha I OUGH V to leave the place: and 
atid what did the materials which generally compose a mob 
want, to countenance them in their diabolical proceedings 



ii 



30 

more than this? They said, that such and such respectable 
persons s^\A^ I ous^ht not to say in the place — that it was 
wrong for me to do so; and thei/ meant to compel me to do 
what these hiii^hly respectable persons said I ought to do: — 
and when the mob assembled, and in a worse than beastly 
manner assaulted me and other innocent persons, these 
same respectable persons would set up the greatest lamen- 
tation, aUnost, imaginable, that 1 should stay here and be 
the means of so much disturbance! Some of the persons 
who thus moved the wires, vvere those, too, who professed 
to be great Anti Slavery folks; and who could easily un- 
derstand how selfish pro-slavery persons, stood behind the 
curtain, and set the mobbish company to devour the 
abolitionists: and yet, they worked by the same rule in or- 
der to drive me from the place where I wished to dwell: 
and pleaded justification too, by the same mode of reson- 
ings! But God sees the secret, serpentine, windings of 
selfishness, and there is no question in my own mind, but 
HIS decision, is, that at their doors lies the principal guilt 
of all the mobbing which I and my afflicted friends have 
suffered since my fall, of which I shall give you a brief ac- 
count presently. I know how they pretend to excuse them- 
selves — i. e. on the ground of my having sinned and fallen. 
Now, the truth is, that this very circumstance increases 
their guilt. If vou find a man in the road, with his legs, 
and arms broken, and commence an attack upon him; 
mailing hun with a cudgel; is not your conduct inore des- 
picable, more aggravating, than if he vvere sound in limb, 
and able to defend himself? Every one can see this — yet, 
this very circumstance in my case, has been considered by 
the class of persons alluded to, good reason why I should 
be bruised, to the hearts content of a brutal mob unless I 
would flee from the place: although I lay with my bones 
broken, bleeding in their street, gasping for the breath of 
life; unable to utter a word in self-defence: and in one 
sense, unable to move from my position. This my b»' 
has been done by many whose names stand ' 
the professed disciples of Christ: — and ' ^^^^h rm 

- ^/ (hose too^ who 



46 

arc constantly deprecating the conduct of Southern stave* 
holders and their ahcttors towards the poor down-troddea 
shaves. Now, they ought to well understand, that the vei;> 
thinii', which they have urixed as an excuse tor their conduct 
towards me is ///a/ which makes the most atrirravatmi; wick- 
cdness: — and that tlie most direful curses spoken of in the 
book of God are pronounced against it. Take the follow, 
ing from tiie 65th Psalm. In the 5th verse David acknowl- 
edges his; 5//{/'/////c.s!>. '' God (lie says) thou knowest 
my tool ishn ess; and my sins are not hid from thee." He 
then speaks of the reproach which had fallen upon him 
and proceeds to denounce the most awful judgments on 
those who notwithstanding his foolishness and sins, re- 
proached and distressed him in his low estate — '* Lettlieir 
tabic become a snare before them; and (hot which shoi/ld 
have been for their irelfarc, let it become a trapy *' Let 
their eyes be darkened that they see not; and make their 
loins continually to shake.'' *'Pour out thine indignation 
afid wrath upon them, and let wrathful anger take hold of 
them. Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell 
in their tents." Why all this/ Because — *^ ihev |)er- 
s?cute him WHOM THOU HAS T SMITTEN, and 
talk to the grief of tliose whom thou hast wounded." Per- 
haps there is no conduct towards our fellow men, more ag- 
gravatingly wicked in the sight of God, than to put our 
foot upon the necks of God's fallen people; at the same 
time smitten by their heavenly father for their sins. This, 
is a subject to which my attention was never called until 
my own dreadtul fall ; and which I have never, in a sintrle 
instance, heard advanced by any preacher: — and yet, there 
is line upon line in proof of it in the Bible. I believe ihere 
is not a single instance recorded in all the bible of God's 
people's sinning and his casting them down, under his 
heavy chastisements, for their iniquities, but what he poured 
out more awful judgments on those, who, in their tallen and 
unhappy stale trampled them under foot, despised and re- 
proached them. But to return — tliis doctrine so zealously 
preached by the class of persons already described that I 



1 



41 

ou'jrht not to live in the place, so strengthened the hanfh 
of the mob that to human conception, my residence in it 
was impossible. But where should I go and what should 
I do? 'I'hese inquires deeply interested me during the 
^QVii weeks which 1 stayed at your house. I knew not what 
to do ; for, that very doctrine and course of conduct, which 
would not let me live in Pawtucket, sent a message in all 
directions, to all places, and all people not to receive me, 
let me go where I would. Let me go where I would, the 
fact that I was driven from my home would follow me : — 
and what better argument would mobs want in any place 
to fall upon me like blofxJ iiounds, than the story that [ was 
so wicked the people of Pawtucket would not let me live 
there? So you see, that the doctrine that I must leave the 
place, not only banished me from my home — the place 
where I desired to dwell, but would if legitimately carried 
out, banish me from the face of the earth! 

With what anguish of soul I reflected on this when at 
your house, thmking what I should do. Turn which uay 
I would, the message of my fall had preceded me; and 
seemed to raise mountains of difficulties in the way of my 
taking up rny residence any where else. As I have al- 
ready said, I was penny less — with a destitute family: in 
the dead of winter; pierced throtigh and through with a 
view of my sin; the world in arms against me and but 
here and there a solitary individual thit seemed to have 
th(3 least concern to alleviate my distress or bind up my 
bleeding wounds. if it had not been for the mercy of 
that blessed Jesus, against whom I had sinned, how inev- 
itably must I have sunk beneath the waves of black des- 
pair! That blessed Saviour r//ri support me. Of this I 
often spake to you when at your house and have again 
S[)oken in a forujcr Icttnr; but, there were sorrows of heart 
which 1 ex()erienced in view of my situation of which 1 did 
not undertake to speak: which 1 never shall describe, for 
they were unutterable. You recollect that I left your 
house when you were away from home and unex'pecledly 
to you. Tlie circumstances in which I was placed, aK 



4-2 

ready described, seemed to press so heavily upon me, iTiat 
it greatly increased my anxiety to see my family; and I 
determined to attempt it with ail its attendant difficulties. 
I started from your house just before sunset on foot, to 
travel home, some fifteen or sixteen miles; with the hope 
of reaching there by 10 o'clock in the evening* at least. — 
I expected my family would be up, until that hour, and 1 
hoped to find my way to them unobserved by others. It 
was in February. There was snow on the ground and tlie 
walking was rendered exceedingly bad by a thaw. On first 
startinof I travelled as rapidly as [ was able, but had gone 
but a few miles, before I found that my exertion, and the 
badness of the way, were liknly to entirely overcome my 
physical powers. By the time I had travelled half way, [ 
could hardly get one foot before the other — I was seized 
with the cramp in almost every limb from head to foot. — 
All the way in which I could make any progress, was by 
travelling a few rods and then stopping, standing and rest- 
ing in the road; for the abundance of snow and water pre- 
cluded all possibility of my sitting down to rest. 1 never 
suffered so much physically in all the journeys I ever trav- 
elled. It seemed sometimes as if I must perish in the 
street: — for where could /call and expect to be received.^ 
I was an outcast; especially with the professed religious 
part of the community; most of whom were ready to spurn 
me from their presence. Added to my great bodily dis- 
tress was all the mental anguish arising from my peculiar 
situation; and these combined, rendered my sufferings 
such, as no heart of flesh can conceive of, without melting 
ing in pity; but " hearts ofstone" can witness such distress 
in a fellow sinner and not only be unmoved with sympathy 
and compassion, but coollif contrive to make the cup more 
bitter, and add weijfht to the heavy burden of wo! This 
my dear brother I know by the most painful expeii' nee — 
'\ hrongh the mercy of God I arrived at the dwelling of my 
family about midniglit: — but now u hat should ! do.' 'i'luy 
were all in bed and so sound a.-ler p, lliai 1 could not a^^al^e 
them without alarming others, whxh I duist not do, fur 



43 

fear that my arrival vvonld be made public. I had no other 
alternative but to stay out doors all night and watch my 
opportunity at the rising of my family in the morning to get 
into the house undiscovered if I could. This was a dreary 
prospect. As I have before said, it was in February and 
the ground covered with snow. ^ I was so physically disa- 
bled that I could hardly move an inch without ihe most 
exquisite pain; and yet, I was obliged to move, or suffer 
still more, if not quite perish with the cold. With great 
effort 1 travelled to the meeting house where I had formerly 
preached and sat me down on the door steps. O my broth- 
er what were my reflections! Tobesure I was in the vd- 
lage where I had sinned; and I was in the village too where 
I had confessed my sin, humbled myself sincerely before 
God and man — thrown myself at the feet of ministers and 
people and implored forgivness of professor and profarje. 
Yes I was in the village where I had sinned, but I was in 
the village too where for more than sixteen years I had tried 
to serve God — where I had implored the mercy of God on 
many a distressed sinner, and had been made an instru- 
ment of pointing many weeping heavy laden souls to the 
lamb of God, where they found comfort and peace. But 
now behold my situation! I thought o^ hy gone d(tys — and 
o^ my pr( sent state ?lx\(\ my heart was broken — my soul 
was overwhelmed within me. I was ready to perish in the 
street of the village of all my labors, for want of a shelter 
and for want of friends! Indeed I knew there were a feic 
that were my friends — that would put in jeopardy their 
earthly all — yea, even their lives to have rendered Uie as- 
sistance: — but they were so situated that I could then ol)- 
tain from them no assistance. But where was I? in the 
midst of a Paoran villat^e? No! but 1 was in a small vil- 
lage where there were perhaps five hundred of the jt>/-o/c.s- 
sed followers of a merciful and forgiving Jesus; and who 
are strictly commanded to " forgive" atid ^^ comfort" a re- 
penting fallen brother ''lest he be swallowed up with over- 
much sorrow." In a village where there were seven 
meeting houses dedicated to the worship of a merciful and 



44 



sin-forgiving God and as many professnd ministers, of ^ 
gospel of mercy and peace, to the GREATEST of sin" 
ners; to the greatest of backsliders who return to God and 
seek his favor. Yes this was the village in which an im- 
plorinof sinner suffered ahnost every thmg but death on the 
d-)Ieful night of which I have been speaking; because, 
comparatively speaking, there were no '^ bowels of mercy" 
for him; *' no man cared for his soul." Yau will not un- 
derstand me to intimate that 1 feared personal violence 
from these five hundred professors themselves? No — they 
have alvvays been ready to say individually, " I would not 
hurt the hairs of his head." But what, I ask, was it but 
the doctrine that I had no moral or religious right to stay 
in the place that reduced me to the extremity of vvhich f 
am describing ? Nothing else. Does any rational being 
doubt, thai if these five hundred professors or indeed one 
Jifl/i part of them with their ministers at their head had risen 
up and maintained the doctrine of the bible, in respect to 
forgiving and shewing me mercy; and of the great sin and 
shame of disturbing me, or offering me persoiial violence 
in dwelling here if! pleased, and thought it my duty — [ 
say does any one doubt if this course had been taken 
but what I could have dwelt herein perfect peace and safe- 
ty? No — there i.s no doubt of this. Where then is the 
condemnation? Let God decide, '' Therefore to him that 
knosveth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." 
James, 4 C. 17 v. This is God's doctrina. But to pursue 
my narrative. 1 lived until morning — entered tlie house 
to the utter astonishment of my a^jcted wife and family, 
and was permitted to stay with them a few days, it not be- 
ing generally known that I was in the place. You saw 
me the next day, and although the circumstances in which 
I was placed, the sufferings which I had endured and the 
apparent sorrow of my soul greatly affected you; still, you 
were then utiable, as you will still be un ible to fathom the 
depths of my wo on that memorable night. But it was only 
a specimen of much, very much which I have since endu?- 
edj and although I cannot as I before said, be very minute 



45 

In detailing it, yet shall in my next, briefly contTnue TPi6 
recital. 

Your ^Affectionate Brother. 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER VII. 

Pavvtucket, Sept. 30th, 1837. 
Mf/ dear Brother : — 

In the account which I gave you of my .suf- 
ferings, I wish clearly to be understood that I do not feel 
as if my Heavenly Father had dealt severely with me for 
my sins. No — far, very far from that. I feel as if his 
mercy towards me in all which he has called me to pass 
through, has been ** higher than the clouds:" and that so 
far from suffering more than I have deserved at his hands, 
I feel fully convinced that for my sins I deserve an eternal 
hell! and that all my hope of escaping such an awful doom 
is in the fororivincr mercy of God through the orreat and in- 
finite atonement made on Mount Calvary by his dear Son. 
O, ho\v much did a certain person miss it, not a l'>no- time 
since, who in attempting to revile me, said I deserved to 
be hung. A very limited view was this of my sin's desert!! 
O merciful Jesus, how surely must 1 have suffered forever 
and ever if it had not been for thy redeeming blood.'' — 
Nor will you dear brother, I trust, charge me with forget- 
ting that /am the chief of sinners, because I necessarily 
speak of the sins of others in their conduct towards me — 
No — God forbid. As I was saying in my la^t, I was per- 
mitted to stay at home a day or two with my poor distres- 
sed family. But ivhile \ stayed, we were in constant fear, 
lest the knowledge of my being there, should spread, and 
the mobites be upon me. Accordingly, I hastened to 
another retreat for safety. This place was the house of 
brother Ezekiel Cornell, in Attleborough, about eleven 
miles from Pawtucket. Time nor efernity, I trust, wilt 
never erase from my mmd, the kind manner in which I 



46 

was received and treated by him and his dear family; to- 
gether with two other families in the same house, by the 
najne of Morse. Here, I stayed for a uumher of ^veeks; 
during whic)i time I was anxiously strivinsf to hit on s >me 
plan to be s'tmrirhere with my family, out of Pawtucket, 
where 1 could labor for their support; but all seemed in 
vain. During my stay there I thouglit \ enjoyed fi^reat 
t>eedom in prayer and much comfort in reading the bible. 
While I was there s!uit up, a letter from that Christ-like 
man, Gerrit Smith of Peterborou_rii N. Y. reached me — 
which in its proper place I shall lay befcjre you, as I am 
sure you will atrree with me ifi the conclusion that hardly 
any thing cc u'd come from an uninspired -^ew more like 
the consolat ry ianoruage of Jesus h.imself to a poor heavy 
laden sinner overwhelmed with trouble, as was the case 
with myself, than this letter: — and as if to shew the con- 
trast, it was about this time, that a professed minister of 
the gospel — a minister, to whom for ten years previous I 
had shewed unmixed kindness, preferred a com[)laint 
against me to th»-^ civil authorities of the state: in order to 
have me fined and thrown into a loathsome prison! Yes, 
dear brother, this is true — you know it — and you know in 
part, too, with what kmdness I treated that man long before 
my fdll. /will not undertake to pronounce on the merit 
or demerit of this transaction — let it speak for itself; and 
let him answer for it to his conscience and his God. Was 
it like the conduct of Jesus wlien the woman was brought 
to him iaken in adultery? If it was the duty o^ any one to 
pursue this cowrse towards me, yet was it his duty as a 
minister of Jesus? I do not believe that there was ever a 
person indicted in the state of R. Island for the same of- 
fence since the sdtbmmt of the state * yet this u*\v\ felt it 
his duty (?) to lay his grasp upon me m the midst and 
height of all my wretchedness, in order to add to my dis- 
tress and disgrace. IVor was this ail — in carrying forward 



*I iiave learnt^d lately that a colored man was indicted a 
number of vears a^ro. 



47 

this benevolent plan, he almost drove my poor wife to dis- 
traction. In order to make an indictment stand against 
me, it was necessary to prove that I was a married man* 
My marriage was not recorded in the town of Cranston 
where it was solemnized — for at that tiir.e it was not cus- 
tomary; and he could not find any one who was present on 
the occasion. Now the story of my wife is, that he came 
to the house and in order to find out who were present on 
the occasion, he accused her of living in adultery with me 
for more than twenty years. My wife said she told him U 
was not true. He said it was; she could not bring a sin- 
gle witness that we were ever married. He said the mob 
had a right to take me and kill me, and his object was to 
save me from the violence of mobs. In all sob(^rness I a^k 
you if this man can now have a word to say against the 
pious Jraud practiced by the Catholics? Now did he be- 
lieve that we were never married? Did any one believe 
it? I leave you to judge. But this she testifies was his 
conduct: and after, by it, as I have before hinted, almost 
frightening her to distraction, and thereby, drawing out of 
her, the names of some who were present at our marriage, 
he prayed over his conduct!— Having thus, by downrigtjt 
DECEPTION gained his point, he rested not, until the 
Grand Jury found a bill against me; although I am quite 
confident that the Attorney General was loath to interfere 
in the case at all; but was literally driven to it by this old 
and long cherished /"nVyzf/ of mine: this minister of Jesus: 
and I have moreover been informed, that he pressed it 
upon the civil authorities, not to be too easy with me; as- 
serting at the same time that it would not hurt me to lay in 
jail six months. And what do you think is the reason he 
has assigned to some of my friends for this course of pro- 
ceeding towards me? Why that he did it for my good!! 

Who was this woman that he accused of living in adul- 
tery for more than twenty years? A woman, that never 
before was charged with immorality, to my knowledge from 
the days of her childhood. A woman who had many a time 
brought water to wash his feet: and had always welcumed 



48 



him to her humble abode and administered to him the best 
temporal blessings which our house afforded: this, was the 
woman, broken hearted, with the dreadful afflictions which 
had fallen upon her, that he visited in my absence, m her 
lonely estate; 7wi to comfort her, but to accuse her ofliving 
in adultery for more than twenty years! Yet this man, 
after such a course of proceedings as this, walks with his 
head up. 

But to proceed — I determined after I found that the 
Grand Jury had found a bill against me, in due time after 
the rising of the court which was then in session, to give 
myself up to the civil authorities of R. I. 1 well knew 
that if I did not do it, those who wished to swallow me up, 
would send after me, in addition to all the rest of their ac- 
cusations, that of my beiijg a fugitive from justice: besides, 
if the laws of my native state had any demands upon me in 
justice and righteousness^ I desired to pay them. But now 
mark my situation: the law of R. 1. bid me come home and 
pof/ its demand; but professors of religion and the mob, 
said I ought not, and should not : — and if I attempted it, 
personal violence would and should be inflicted upon me in 
the most severe manner. This has been my situation for 
m )nths: for after I gave myself up and was under five hun- 
dred dollar bonds ?iot to depart, the same arguments and 
the same course of conduct was pursued to drive me away. 
Now, was not this, precisely, like chaining a man to a tree 
and then killing him because he did not run away? Yet, 
/ was very stubborn^ after being thus chained because I 
.lid not flee! I know it might be said that there were other 
^>laces in the state where 1 might have resided with my 
j'lmily and supported them 1 ask where? One of my 
jViends, about four miles from this place was threatened 
with being mobbed because I spent one day with him. — 
But to go on with my story. Aftei spending a number of 
weeks at brother CornePs, I removed to another place in 
Uehoboth which I do not feel at liberty to name, for fear 
Ihat even at this late hour, the fact tnight draw down upon 
4aeia vengeance and injuries. I thought it best to remove 



I 



49 

from brother Cornel's for my residence was generally 
known — and, althoug-h I did not know it then, yet I after- 
wards learned that during my short residence there, three 
attempts were made to raise a mob to drive me from the 
place: but a merciful God confounded them. About the 
middle of April, I took up my residence privately with 
brother Nehemiah Randall. The treatment which I re- 
ceived from him and his wife has laid me under grateful 
obligations to them, which I never shall be able to repay. 
May God reward them for their kindness at the resurrection 
of the just! While T was here, I caused to be printed a 
short address to the people of Pawtucket. If I was never 
allowed to dwell in the place again, I felt as if I wanted to 
say something more to them. In this address I reiterated 
my confession; and at the same time it seemed as if I could 
not help speaking briefly, of the unscriptural course of 
soBie of God's professed people towards me ; in refusing to 
shew me mercy. This was enough. They seized upon 
these expressions as evidence that I was not penitent and 
a sufficient justification for their rejecting me. But where 
was their apology for rejecting me three months previous 
to that? during which time my confession was before them 
in the most humiliating terms: containing not a word of 
the description which they were so offended at in this ad- 
dress. But more on this subject at another time. The 
time came, when I thought proper to deliver myself up to 
the ofKcer who held the warrant against me, on the indict- 
ment already alluded to. I determined to come home long 
enough to have that accomplished and risk consequences. 
After my arrival 1 sent word to him, in Providence, that I 
was at home ready to be taken into his custody ; but as 1 
purposed to give bonds for my appearance, and as it was 
necessary for me to recognize in Providence, he wished 
me to come there in order to have it accomplished, A 
misunderstanding respecting this, occasioned a delay; and 
consequently the wariant was not served upon me for a 
number of months afterwards. After staying at home two 
nights, I again left the place for safety. 1 went but a short 
o 



50 

distance, howerer, and made myself known. I was no\r 
feent for ; or rather word was sent to me, to return and 
dviell in Pawtucket if 1 pleased: — that I should not be 
harmed &c. And who, my dear brother, do you think it 
was, that sent me this message in my wretched condition? 
Iniiuential professors of religion ? No, no; but persons 
wiio made no pretensions to religion. Men who by those 
very professors, are looked upon as the Pharisees in the 
days of Christ and by the apostles, looked upon as Gentile 
sinners: that is, as c/oor5. But they sent this message to 
me — welcomed me to their houses and assured me, that 
they Mould defend me from harm. O my heart aches when 
1 give you this account; but it is iruc^ and I think ought 
to be told. Let not unbelievers say in view of it, that there 
is no such thing as the religion of Jesus: nor, that the 
precious bible is not the word of God: — but rather let the 
land mourn, that the glory of gospel truth and mercy, has 
so departed from God's professing Israel — and let them sigh 
aud cry for the coming of Jesus ^vom Nazareth again. 
Your ^ijfeclionate Brother. 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER VIIL 

Pawtucket, Oct. 1st, 1837. 

My dear Brother : — 

I think I closed my last, in shewing that m 
my distresSjGod inclined the hearts of a number of persons 
who made no pretensions to religion, to pity me and help 
me. 1 cannot forbear in this place, to mention the use 
which was made of this by certain professors of religion, 
who themselves were bent on myjeaving the place. Why, 
they had conclusive evidence now^ that I was not right; 
because the wicked, they said, were friendly to me! — 
One person in particular, who has spared no pains to de- 
fame me, seemed to have his pious feelings very much 
wrought upon now. He and others were shewing their 



51 

deep and ardent piety in trampling under foot a fallen man 
— ** in persecuting him whom God had smitten" — in not 
remembering to shew mercy to an imploring sinner: — but, 
when God touched the heaits of persons who made no pro- 
fession of religion, to reach forth the hand of compassion 
to me while driven to such an extremity of wretched- 
ness, why, it was strong proof of my wickedness, that un- 
believers befriended me! Eve-rlasting praise to God that 
he did thus incline their hearts. VVhen I think of it my 
soul is melted with gratitude. And shall I conceal the con- 
duct of these persons who manifested so much pity and 
sympathy for me? God forbid — I sincerely thank ^Aem. — 
Did I reno'ince any of my religious views to gain favor from 
them? No! Nor do 1 in making this statement — but I 
should be worse than a heathen to refuse a grateful ack- 
nowledgement of it. But as I was saying, this was evi- 
dence against my piety in the minds of certain persons; 
and so of course Mordicai, Esther and all of the Jews who 
were saved througfi tiie instrumental favor of king Ahas- 
uerus — and Joseph too are condemned by inferences from 
their doctrine! Before I proceed, I ought in justice to 
mention that wiule at the last mentioned place of retreat, 
one professor of religion, who was not a member of th« 
church of which I had lormerly been pastor, visited me and 
spake to me the words of mercy and compassion. I feel 
under lasting ol)ligations to him; not only for his christian- 
like treatment of me at this time, but for his subsequent 
kindness to me. He was a *' friend indeed." But I finally 
determined to return home and live openly with my family. 
This, I had no sooner done, than certain persons began to 
talk, that I never could stay in Pawtuckel on account of 
the mob. One man, in particular, a member of a church, 
abounded in this kind of talk. He would not harm a hair 
of my head, he said; but he /ca76»^ enough that would; and 
r]\ they were waiting for, was to have me move out of the 
house where 1 then lived: and this it was expected I should 
soon be obliged to do. I desire not to judge wrongfully, 
but I am far from being alone in the opinion that this man 



52 

and others, who were talking the same language were more 
distressed for fear that I should not be mobbed out of the 
place, than they were in apprehension of any injury which I 
might sustain; for, at the moment they were expressing 
their fears that 1 should be mobbed, they were taking tlie 
straight forward course to raise one, by most violently con- 
demning me for thinking to live in the place But the wires 
were moving. The tenement in which I lived, and had oc- 
cupied for a number of years, was owned by a widowed lady, 
then residing in Providence, and constituted her thirds of 
what was formerly her husband's estate. The other part 
had been purchased and was then occupied by a certain pro- 
fessor of religion, a member in good, and perhaps I shall 
not err in saying high standing in one of the churches in 
this village. Now althoucrh I had lived with this man a 
number of years, and had never done ought that I knew 
of in word or deed to injure him, yet instead of just step- 
ping into my room and speaking to me as the word of God 
commanded him if he had ought against me, I received 
from him one morning the following letter: 

North Providence, May 15 1837. 
Rev. Ray Potter — 

Sir — I am compelled on account of 
things which have transpired of late to give you an invi- 
tation to move out of this house. If you do not feel dis- 
posed to accept this invitation I shall immediately take such 

measures by law, that will accomplish it forth with. 

As 1 do not wish to injure the man, although he has in- 
jured me I spare his name. This was the first informa- 
tion that I was possessed of, that there was any transfer of 
the tenement to his hands — and what is more, he had not at 
the time he wrote me this htter legal possession of the ten- 
ement — 1 mean he had no deed of it. And yet, you see 
what he says about turning me out of the house by le^ai 
steps. If he had been in legal possession of the house he 
could not legally have turned me out under three months. 
But I determined to go as soon as possible; still, where 



53 

fehonJd T go was a most perplexing- question. I have good 
reason to believe, that his determination was, in unision 
with otheirs, to take this opportunity to try to drive me out 
of the place. But where should 1 go out of the place? I 
knew of no where under heaven. I tarried a few days du- 
ring which time he had two spells of injperiously urging 
me to move forthwith. My situation at this time was try- 
ing beyond description: and I leave you to judge whose 
conduct towards me at this time savored the most of human' 
ity ; this high professor, and his coadjutors in oppressing 
me, or, that of those persons that make no pretensions to 
religion, to whom 1 have already alluded. Facts are stub- 
born things — [ state facts; and I am willing that they 
should decide this question. All this does not prove that 
none who profess religion possess it, although it maypo55t- 
hbj prove that some who profess it — and are making long 
prayers — and thanking God that they are no adulterers — 
are not like '' this publican," do not act out so much hu- 
mariity as those whom they look upon as the ancient Phar- 
isees looked upon Gentile sinners — viz: dogs without the 
pale of God's mercy ! But to return — at this trying juncture 
when * refuge seemed to fail me,' two brethren^ came to 
my relief Not that this was their first act of mercy 
towards me; but this was the commencement of a course, 
which exposed them to still greater sufferings, for shewing 
me favor, than they had hitherto experienced; although 
they had already suffered much in thus trying to obey the 
commands of God in the discharge of their duty. They had 
hired a tenement for their own accommodation ; but rather 
than see me turned out of doors, they determined to take 
me in; a'though greatly to their own illconvenience. But 
now other trouble rolled in upon me. This house was near 
by and in plain sight, of the dwelling of the family of the 
person who had been injured by my transgression, and I 
knew that my residing so near them would be extremely 
disagreeable to them: but 1 had no where else to go. I 



♦acoti Sfnith and Rufus; Bliss. 



5i 

Tras literally driven to take up my abode tlierej; and yet 
this circumstance has been zealously improved, to excite 
prejudice against me, by representations that I moved there 
on purpose to afflict them. Nothing is farther from truth. 
But I removed: and now commenced a scene of mobbing 
and other vile treatment of me and my family, that beggars 
description. A certain individual, whom you well know, 
and whose character I shall not here undertake to describe, 
commenced a course of coming around the house, evenings 
and frequently on Sabbath afternoons with as many as he 
could collect to join him in such a crusade, and in hearing 
of all who were in the house, belched out the disposition of 
their hearts^ in language which one would think the inmates 
of any brothel in the Ian J would be ashamed to utter. I 
think you cannot conceive of talk so vulgar and obscene. 
Now these were the persons that were so grieved on ac- 
count of my sin! This person worked a namber of weeks 
not many rods across the fields from where 1 lived, and his 
constant practice, was, to salute me with some of his vulgar 
expressions, every time he saw me without doors. 1 
thought of Shimei cursing David, and was still. His voire 
generally might be heard half a mile, and his language the 
most revolting imaginable, to every sense of decency, much 
more of piety and religion. You will ask, perhaps, if he 
\V3LS countenanced in this, by any who made pretensions to 
respectability. I answer yes — both male and/emw/^. But 
this was all well for they were avenging the sin of licen- 
tiousness ! I ought in justice to mention, here, that I have 
been credibly informed that his wife and family were op- 
posed to his conduct, and much grieved on account of it. 
Sometimes a great number would collect around the house 
with him; join him in the most vulgar, offensive and abu- 
sive talk and do all which they could, to grieve, distress, 
and alarm us: for I wa=5 constantly threatened withperson- 
Tii violence. My innocent family — ^*my poor distressed wife 
and two other innocent and virtuous families in the same 
house had to suiTer all of this. Now observe: one of the 
main pillars of the argument, that I ought not to stay ta 



55 

the village of Pawtucket, has been, that it was dis- 
tressing to the family of the injured person, &c. I have al- 
ways desired to do all vvhich I could, to soothe their feel- 
ings, and in all which has ever been said and done, by some 
of them to me, in a way of revenge, I have abstained from 
retaliation. I would do every thing possible for nie to do, 
to make restitution to them, for all the injuries they may 
have sustained from me. If I had moneij^ I would freely 
give it to them— but I cannot do that which is not in my 
power. And now I would ask if /have not a family? — 
And what has been the course of conduct pursued towards 
them? I have just alluded to a part of it — but one half 
has not been told, nor ever can be. For three months, 
they were constantly harrassed with a course of treatment, 
which no dumb beasts ever ought to be made the subjects 
of. This, many know full well. By it, my wife's health 
was so affected, that she seemed for some time, tottering on 
the brink of the grave. And this, says one^ was an addition- 
al reason, why you ought to to have moved. And where 
should I have gone, to have got clear of mobs? I could not 
have crossed the ocean, to have put myself under the gov- 
ernment of the Autocrat of Russia, or the Emperor of the 
Turks, if I had been disposed, and as for Republican Jlmeri* 
ca, I should like to know where the spot is, that is not under 
the imperial government of mobs. But I have already 
given good and substantial reasons, why I did not move. 
Besides, my wife, like a moral heroine, conscious of her own 
innocence, resolutely declared, that she would not leave the 
place at the bidding of a mob. 1 would ask what my virtu- 
ous wife, and innocent children had done, to bring down 
upon them, such a torrent of almost unparalleled abuse? 
Was it not enough for them, to be pressed with the moun- 
1 tain weight of grief and anguish, occasioned by w?y trans- 
gression and fall, without being driven to distraction, and 
almost to the extinction of life, by a worse than barbarian 
mob? And who were the moving cause of this — or in 
other words, who supported the mobbing? Before God I 
declare, that influential persons, many of whom were pro* 



56 

fcssors, supported it, by preaching the doctrine, that I had 
no moral or religious right, to stay in the place. The mob 
quoted from them, this doctrine constantly — and they only 
acted out this sentiment. There^ lies the principal part of 
the responsibility, as I have shewn you in a former letter: 
and putting myself out of the question, the day is coming, 
when they must meet that afflicted and abused woman and 
children, before him whose justice is inflexible! But to 
proceed: our sufferings were very great. Often times I 
fled to the woods, and spent part of the night there, to es- 
cape the violence which I feared from the mob. There I 
often prostrated myself before HIM, whose power is om- 
nipotent, and whose hand is mighty to save, and implored 
him to deliver us from the hand of the violent and wicked. 
I thought of those, who, in ancient times wandered in goat 
skins, and sheep skins, and had to become tenants of the 
dens and caves of the earth; and sometimes seriously 
thought, that I must be driven to the same extremity — I 
felt as if I had no where to lay my head. Nor was this 
all. Two other innocent and virtuous families, who re- 
sided in the same house, were partakers with us, in all our 
distresses. A natural sister of mine, who w^as in an infirm 
state of health, was so alarmed that she quit her home — the 
fiendish proceedings of the mob. being insupportable. 

You cannot conceive of the lies which were framed, re- 
specting myself and friends, entirely out of'* whole cloth," 
in order to keep up this excitement against us. Not a set- 
tled miniser in all this region, came near us in all this time 
of overwhelming distress — nor scarcely a professor of re- 
ligion, excepting the few, to which I have already alluded. 
You can scarcely imagine in what a manner most of thewi 
passed the house — those too, who before my fall, professed 
to be my friends. They seemed to brace up themselves, 
and press forward, as if they thought the sight of me, would 
greatly disgrace them. Did Jesus ever turn away from 
an imploring sinner.'^ Was this conduct like ^iw.^ I be- 
lieve, if a person is under the influence of the spirit of Je- 
sus, it wilhbe very difficult for them to stop their ears lo 



5^/ 

thfe cry of the penitent, nor will they feel it a disgrace to 
visit them. The few who did visit us, were loaded with im- 
precations, and accused of the worst of motives — especially 
the females. It was constantly asserted, that I continued 
to visit the person, who fell with me in sin, and another 
person who resided with her, for her deeds of mercy was 
the most ahused, with slander and false accusations, of any 
person 1 have ever known. I know of none on earth, in 
my estimation, jiiore like Jesus than she, and yet almost 
every kind of slander, which Satan ever invented, seemed 
now to be poured out upon hiir without mixture, because 
she would not forsake us, but visited us in our distress. 
Thanks be to God, that there is a day fast rolling on, v\hen 
her true character will appear: and let those who have de- 
famed her, for her conduct towards me and my family, in 
this hour of peril and distress, prepare to answer the de- 
mand of tliat commandment, '^ thou shalt not bear false wit- 
ness!" My invaluable friend and brother, Smith, was 
openly threatened with being carried to the bridewell for 
praying and his excellent and godly wite, treated bui little 
better. Bat my brother, I cawnot give you a just account 
of the enormity of these proceedings. I never witnessed 
their parallel — and if Satan has any honor to bestow on 
those of his children, who most nearly resemble their father, 
no doubt but the leader of that mob and his coadjutors, will 
have strong claims for it. And what was the consolation 
that we got from the christian public, generally, during all 
tlie-e days of peril.? Why, that I was a sfubborn wnn^ to 
stay, and caue so much trouble ! VVell, there is a God of 
j slice. O my brother — was not here a revelation of 
hearts? But we had succor from some sources, that I 
least expected it from — indeed, it was wonderful in what a 
mysterious way God worked. It shewed n\Q plainly his 
hand; may 1 never forget his goodness, nor those \Aho 
held out to me a helping hand, in these hours of great trial 
and calamity. 

At length, at the darkest time, and when we least expect- 
ed it, deliverance came. On Saturday evening, of the 2Gth 



58 

Aug. there were signs of more than an ordinary effort by 
the mob to distress us. We were informed, that ilieir cal- 
culation was, to attack us at a late hour of the night. In 
the mean time^ a company o^ large boi/s, (1 know not how 
to speak more appropriately,) commenced a march through 
the place with mania! music. This was kept up for an 
hour or two, and had a natural tendency to collect hundreds 
into their ranks. Whether this company first started with 
a design to join the mob or not, I am not certain; but dur- 
ing their excursion, the mob collected around the house, 
and it is said that some of their number, interceded vvith 
this company, to march up to the house, at the time they 
meant to make an assault. Hundreds were collected at a 
short distance from the house; and although we did not 
know it then, yet 1 have now good reason to believe, that 
many of them were ready to defend us, if the mob under- 
took to enter the house. This company, just now alluded 
to, about 10 o' clock reached the house; and at that mo- 
ment the mob rhade a rush towards the door. They 
marched up in double Jile; headed by two men of monstrous 
stature, and it was said, that their approach was, as if they 
meant to destroy the house and its inmates; but they had 
no sooner 7'eac/ied the house, than one of these gigantic 
leaders, was struck by an unknown hand, a most terrible 
blow; and some say levelled vvith the ground, although 
others say not — at any rate, the blow was a most severe 
one, and instantly there was fighting throughout the ranks. 
J was not in the bouse; yet so near, that 1 judi^ed from 
the noise, curses, and imprecations, that tl^ere was figiitu'.g, 
which gave me great concern. My friends in the house, 
were utterly astounded; for, they knew not what to make of 
ii, as they supposed those who had collected around the 
liouse, were all of one mind, and they knew not how to ac- 
count for the fighting. They were all peace men, having 
been determined, from the commencement of our difticul- 
ties, as I was myself, never to resort to physical force in 
self-defence; nor did one of them lift a finger. However, 
on learning the facts, they were as follows: — Many who 66- 



59 

Ilcvrd in fighting, had hecome exceedingly disgusted, and 
finally exasperated, at tlje treatment which I and my family 
had received. They said, that f had confessed my sin, 
implored forg-iveness, and ^iven myself up into the hands 
of the civil authorities, and what more could in reason he 
required of rne; and indeed, what more could I do? After 
all this, for me and my family to he thus tormented by an 
unprincipled mob, they considered unsufTerahle; and as 
the civil authorities had failed to quell the mob, and the in- 
fluential part of the community, refused to frown down such 
proceedinos, and as " clul) law" as they termed it, was the 
order of the day, they determined to have a hand in it; 
and defend rne at the risk of their lives. Now, ell this 
was decided upon, as I have before said, without our know- 
ing a lisp {)[■ it. 1 mention this, because we were imme- 
diately accused, of getting men there on that evening to 
fight; and two young men, I understood, positively de- 
clared, that they saw a man come out of the house, and 
knock the nfore-named man down — as unfounded lies as 
ever were told: but you see by these assertions, how utterly 
impossible it was, for us to have the truth understood re- 
specting us. But, as I before said, those were the deter- 
minations of a number to defend us; and it appears that 
they actually watched the house, for a number of nights 
beibre tiiis took place; and we hav€ since been informed, 
that a lart^e number of men, were at times collected in a 
grove, near at hand, ready at a moment's warning.^ to con^ve 
lo our rescue. How little do God's people know how he 
designs to take care of them and deliver them. Heaven, 
earth, and hell, are all under his control, and he can make 
use of Angels and devils, saints and sinners, to accomplish 
his purposes. We felt that our refuge and help was iu 
God alone, and we cried to him day and night for deliver- 
ance, but little did we know what was then going on. On 
the evening of the fight, most of the persons alluded to, it 
appears, had retired; it being late; but those who lingered, 
commenced their work, it seems, the moment they thought 
the house was to be assaulted. We never knew to this 



60 

day, who it was that struck the man already alluded to — 
It was immediately reported, that it was one of my neph- 
ews — evidently designed, to create a farther rage against 
me; as if I were the means ofgetlinir my relatives there, 
to fight for me. I'his was false. I helieve two of my neph- 
ews were there; though 1 knew nothing of it, until after- 
wards — but neither oi' them struck this mau. However, 
the work was done, and there was much hard fighting. — 
The fight seemed to produce a scattering in all directions. 
There was a little show of a mob, one evening allterwards, 
but not to annoy us much. The truth was, this ended it — 
for ihe very man, of which I spoke, who commerced this 
diabolical work, was now threatened with the same personal 
violence, that he had been trying to inflict upon me, if he 
could be caught. Thus you see how God works. I now 
^vish to state to you a dream, which I am not ashamed to 
say, I believe was from God; and had a most complete ful- 
iilment in these proceedings. A certain pious woman, by 
the name o{ Brailey^ told me. when this mobbing first com- 
menced, 

She dreamed, that I was sitting in a room, and a very 
evil looking man came in, approached me. and laid down 
close by me, a paper, containing quite a large quantity of 
gun powder. He then took an iruti w hich he held in his 
hand, heat it red hot, and tried to touch it off and destroy 
me. She said, she was exceedingly alarmed, when she 
saw that I did not move, for she expected I should be blown 
to atoms. I remained, however, in the same position; not 
moving at all: and although he heat his iron red hot, six or 
seven times, the powder would not ignite, and 1 remained 
unhurt. Just at that time, an Elephant approached to the 
door of the room where I was sitting, of an enormous size, 
and a most frightful aspect; the man took the powder from 
me, and laid it down close beside the Elephant — heat his 
iron, touched the powder, and it went o^ ihe first time and 
blew this monster to atoms! 

She dreamed this three times over in one nighty everij 



61 

time precisehj alike. I will give you my interpretation: 
The evil looking man, heating the iron to touch offthe pow- 
der, was a certain person or rather persons, trying to inflame 
the mob to drive me out of the place; for you will recollect 
that the whole drift of this mobbing was to get me to 
move. The powder not going off, when touched so many 
times with a red hot iron, shewed how wonderfully, and I 
might say miraculously, God preserved me unhurt, while 
this storm was bursting upon me in such torrents. The 
Elephant approaching the door was the mob coming up to 
the door on the evening I have described— and his being 
blown to pieces, was its dispersion in all directions, by the 
fighting already mentioned; for you observed that they 
were assailed in the very same manner that I was threat- 
ened to be treated if 1 did not move! Never did I see any 
thing more literally fulfilled. I could but be struck when 
one of the brethren was giving me the account of their ap- 
proach to the house led on by two gigantic men. He said 
they come as if they would tear every thing to pieces, and 
looked like Elephants — that is, he meant metaphorically. 
Now I confess that when I first heard this dream, it made 
a deep impression on my mind, and was a great means of 
supporting me through all this scene, until deliverance 
came. God be praised: *' It is better to trust in the Lord, 
than to put confidence in Princes." 

In my next I shall commence an account of the tran- 
sactions of the Church in relation to my unhappy case. In 
the mean time I remain 

Yuur Mffecfionate Brother. 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER IX. 

Pawtucket, Oct. 1st, 1837. 
My dear Brother : — 

I can but remind you again, that in speaking 
of the faults of others, in the transactions connected wjth 



6 



62 

my dreadful fall, I do not lose sight of my own sinfulness. 
No; a view of my own transgressions, press upon my soul 
with mountain weight; and have a tendency to fill me with 
pity and compassion for other transgressors. But, as I do 
not countenance nor excuse my own sins, so a regard for 
truth and the claims of God's holy law, require me to act 
in respect to the conduct of others. I do not expose the 
conduct of others from a spirit o^envy: — because I ^m fallen 
and wish to bring others down: — no, far, very far, is this, 
from the disposition that I trust, governs me; for, the truth 
is, (as strange as it may appear to you) I would not ex- 
change situations with the most honorable of those whom 
I censure, nor, would I exchange my present state, all 
things considered, with that which I was in, before my fall. 
But, I expose the conduct of others for the advancement of 
the cause of Christ, and to bring out great and glorious 
truths, which seem to have been buried out of sight by the 
great body of Christian professors of the present age. — 
These, are the motives and this is the object which I now 
have in view in giving you a brief account of the proceedings 
of the church, of which before my fall, I was pastor, in rela- 
tion to my case. 1 shall have to speak of the conduct of 
some, with the most painful emotions: — not only because 
they have, as I conceive, sinned in a most aggravating 
manner, but because of the very peculiar attachment, which 
for many years I had borne to them. 1 love them still, and 
constantly pray for them; and ifit were possibly consistent 
with what I conceive to be my duty, in respect to the cause 
of truth, I would bury their conduct if I could, in oblivion. 
But, it appears to me that truth and righteousness forbid 
this; and I shall obey, however trying to my feelings, in oth- 
er respects; and, however the statement which I am about to 
make, might in the minds of many, especially of those who 
may be censured, subject me to the charge of being influ- 
enced by most wicked motives and base designs. Afler 
hearing the relation, 1 trust that you will say, it ought not 
to have been withheld. As I am not influenced by a desire 
of injuring, personally, the actors in this scene and as I 



63 

would do all which I can consistently to avoid this, 1 will 
substitute for their real names fictitious ones: — ^i. e. when 
I feel obliged to point out individuals: — (and I shall thus 
be obliged in a few instances) so that whatever use you 
may see fit to make of this account, only those who have 
been familiar with the circumstances, will know who are 
meant. 1 shall state facts; stubborn facts; which, if de- 
nied by the actors, shall be proved io the satisfaction of any 
candid mind. Now, one of the most prominent actors in 
this scene, against truth^ as I conceive, I shall call Jirchip^ 
pus. 1 first thought of calling him '* Expediency ;'^'^ on ac- 
count of the appropriateness of the epithet, in respect to 
his doctrine and practice, in connection with the transac- 
tions which I am about to give you the history of. After 
the perusal, I am persuaded that you will readily admit that 
the doctrine of expediency — that expediency which refuses 
to submit to the word and commands of God for fear of 
loss^ has rarely been more glaringly illustrated than in this 
man's doctrine and practice. But as the epithet would look 
like nick-naming I forbear. Archippus was a brother that 
for many years I had loved above most men in the world; 
and on whom 1 had made great (too great undoubtedly) de- 
pendance in sustaining the spiritual welfare of the church. 
Tobesure, we differed in our theological views; but, then, 
1 thought him to be so uncommonly pious^ that I bore what 
I conceived to be bis doctrinal errors with patience. A few 
months before my fall, however, reports were briefly circu- 
lated, prejudicial to his moral character. I mention this, 
because 1 cannot consistently separate it, from the history 
which I am about to give you as you will see presently. — 
He was charged with insulting a number of females in a 
manner tending to licentiousness He come before the 
church and made a confession. In his confession he said 
he had given an occasion for the talk about him. Now I, 
and I believe most others who heard him, thought, he meant 
something by this confession: — that is we thought he meant 
to confess that he had actually been guilty of immoral and 
wicked conduct. We did not think he meant to confess that 



64 

he had been guilty ofadultery — nor, that he had been guilty 
of a// which had been laid to his charge: but we did think, 
he meant to confess, that he had been guilty ofunchaste or 
immoral conduct towards females; which was shameful and 
disgraceful. Now, I wish you to particularly remember 
this statement ; in order that you may the more clearly see, 
the twist which this brother subsequently gave to this con- 
fession, in order to answer his purposes of expediency. — 
Well, the church that were present, most freely forgave 
him. But there were some who were not present, that did 
not feel reconciled to him; and among these few there 
was one sister, who had gained a great reputation in the 
church for piety, that seemed by far the most foreign from 
giving him fellowship. She was abundant in her labors 
with other members of the church to exhibit in the clearest 
light the baseness of his conduct^ and the enormity of his 
transgressions — declared she could not take bread from his 
hands at the communion season Sec. Sec. Now this^ 1 wish 
you also to recollect; and as this sister has borne a con- 
spicuous part in trying to crush me, while calling on her for 
mercy, and as she in order to accomplish it, finally swal- 
lowed the whole of what she hadsaid^ was such abominable 
conduct in her brother Archippu.s, I shall have occasion to 
speak of her often, and will therefore designate her by the 
title of Mrs. W. Now with this hard and unforgiving 
course of Mrs. W. towards him,Archippus was excessively 
grieved. He was frequently urging and insisting upon 
the duty of/br^2t'6?ie55, according to the plain commands of 
Christ; and scarcely a meeting for conference passed, for 
a considerable time, but what he spoke on the subject; and 
I must own, too, with much propriety. He talked much 
to me, respecting her hard and unforgiving course towards 
him, and was even opposed to her being appointed on com- 
mittees to visit erring sisters, on account of her being in such 
a state. But Mrs. W. was deaf to all of his preaching. — 
She had not then found it expedient to fellowship him: and 
he told me that he was never talked so hard to, by any per- 
son, saint nor sinner as by her. You will learn presently 



6& 

kow It was that Archippus and Mrs. W. come to unite heart 
and hand without any retraction by either! In the mean 
time Archippus preached up strongly and constantly the 
duty of forgiveness, until my dreadful fall. On the even- 
ing when I come before ihe church, already alluded to, he 
preached it — and he preached it too, most powerfully to 
Mrs. VV. She was one of the two, which I mentioned in 
a former letter that would not say that she would forgive 
me. I implored it of her on my knees; but she would not 
grant it, and [ never have seen her since. Let her read 
the parable in the I8th of Matt, and prepare to meet her 
God! Archippus told her plainly, that he should not dare 
to go to sleep in such a state of mind,; and to overthrow 
all her cavils respecting my penitence^ he quoted the ex- 
pression of our Savior, *' if he say he repent thou shalt for- 
give him." Before I get through, I shall show you the 
sophistry of that ground, which many have taken in respect 
to this subject, by pretending to make a distinction between 
forgiveness and fellowship here. To proceed. This was 
on Saturday evening. On Monday this brother visited 
me. His conversation was that which becometh the gos- 
pel of Christ — full of mercy and compassion. He then told 
me, how fully he felt satisfied that I was truly penitent tor 
my sin — had no doubt but what I was a christian — believed 
me to be in a better state of mind than I had been in for a 
lon^ time before, &lc — and, said he, ^'brother P. and my- 
self were saying that we had rather have heard you preached 
on our own account, the next day after you made your con- 
fession than ever before." Bear this in your mind dear 
brother — it will help you more clearly to see the hideous- 
ness of thai doctrine, which this brother soon began to 
obey: generally called by those who mean to obey God at 
the risk of the loss of all things, selfish expediency. Well; 
I think it was the next day that this same brother come to 
me with the request that I would ask to be excluded from 
the church. He ihoujihi \i expedient ihcit this should be 
done, in order to avoid this and that calamity and to an- 
swer this and that good purpose. You may judge with what 




66 

surprise I heard this from his hps; taking into considera- 
tion his ow?i situation; and his former ahundant preachm^ 
up forgiveness. I told him readily, that I dar^ not do it. 
It was directly contrary to scripture, and that 1 was afraid 
of sinning in such a course, 'i'liese, were trying moments. 
I was overwiielmed in view of what 1 had done. I wished 
to do every thinnr which God in his word required n)c to 
do, to hind up the wounds which my sin and full had oc- 
casioned: still, was I required to go cotitrary to scri[)ture ? 
No! this could not be. 1 had no other directory in the path 
of duty and not\vithstandin::r all of his arguments (not one 
of which however, had any bible authority,) I resisted, the 
temptation and clung fast to God's precious word, as the 
man of my counsel. He left me; but he did not throw 
away his doctrine. He had cointnenced the journey in th.c 
road of selfish expediency, and as is sure to be the case his 
moral perception of right and wrong in the case, was imme- 
diately blunted; which has evidently increased ever since, 
in proportion to the progress which he has made in the 
way: — and he has made most rapid strides as you will see 
in the sequel. The next scens in this drama, was acted 
at your house. You remember it vvell. Archippus tbl- 
lowed me there. His first conversation was, that he had 
come to see me airain on the subject which we last con- 
versed upon at our house. You heard it. You heard my 
objections similar to those which I have already recited: — 
and 7/ou saw plainly too, that we could none of us find a 
single word of scripture to authorise such a course. But 
it was a time I may say of niost awful arixiety with me. — 
The arguments which Archippus urged that it would be 
for the good ofthe church — that it was the only thmg which 
would prevent a division^ almost overwhelmed me. He 
told me, that a certain Deacon in the Baptist Church; for 
whose judgment I entertained an exalted opinion, said it 
was the only course that would save ?ne and save the 
church. O my brother save jnc and save the church at the 
expense of casting away and treading under foot, as plain 
commands of God^ as were ever inscribed by the pen of 



6t 

inspiration within the covers ofihe bible. I sny ?20?/>, rather 
than do this, let mt sink to rise no more! 1 was also told 
that one of the most prominent men in your church had also 
expressed his decided opinion, and had written a letter to 
the Pawtucket church, to that (effect, tliat, such a step 
ought immediately to he taken. But what next ? You dear 
brother capped the climax, by adding your testimony, to 
what I feel authorised to call a most horrible dodrinc. : — 
a doctrine which '\^ Itffitimately car nexd out ^ would subvert 
the whole gospel of God. I am glad you now see it so. — 
God save you from ever again leaving the bible rule, ani 
r^llowing in the track of selfish expediency: 1 shall never 
f'3rget tliose words ofyours — ^' You will not shew your pen- 
itence, ilay, unless you do it:" tliat is^ request to be ex- 
cluded from the church, and thereby to be considered as 
having no interest in the kingdom of (iod and his mercy, 
wlien I was well assured that at that moment my name was 
written in heaven, whatever others might think of n^^e. O 
my brother, shew my penitence by thus turning away from 
the Irnfhj and committing such a deed as this! God forgive 
you for pro^ering such counsel, and me for following it. 
But I was overcome, tv^// of this was too much. I called 
for the pen and i!ik as you well remember, and wrote the 
dreadful vnscriptural request, for the church to exclude 
me: for Archippus said unless 1 requested it many of them 
would not do it. Thank God that there were some pre- 
served from doing it, although I in my weakness and folly 
did reqtieist it. You well remember, I strove to find some 
countenance from the bible for this step; and the nearest 
1 could come to it, was to quote where Miriam was shut 
out of the camp, seven days after the sedition agains^t Mo- 
ses!!! Not only, is selfish expediency the road o^ tricked- 
ness, but it makes all of its votaries aj)pear consummately 
foolish^ in trying to find scripture and reason to support 
it. There is no doubt however, but what my quotation 
was as jnuch in point as any thing to be found wiihin tlie 
li is of the bible authorising the step which 1 then took. — 
Nevertheless, Archi])pus seemed well pleased with his vie- 



63 

tofy. But what next? The very thing which he so Ve* 
hemently urged m order to sm^c a division in the churchy 
caused a division No sooner did they come together and 
the proposition was laid before them for my excommunica- 
tion, than certain brethren arose and demanded bible au- 
thoritt/y for such a course. Not a syllable could be quoted 
to support it. All the authority that could be urged, was, 
*' that it was for the best, and I had requested it — " and 
although many were carried away with the delu&ions, whose 
intentions were evidently good, and who soon retraced 
their steps, yet, a number stood firm and invulnerable, to 
all the sophistry of the doctrine of selfish expediency. — 
They" said 1 had been before them, and made my confes- 
sion, and implored forgiveness; and the bible left them but 
one course^ to pursue; and that was, forgiveness — the very 
doctrine which Archippus had been preaching in respect 
to his own case. Let me here say it is as impossible to 
se\)av3.te foi'giveness in this case from fellowship, as it is to 
separate them in God's foroiving^ a sinner for Christ's sake. 
Here, as I have before said, these brethren took their 
stand — on the bible; in opposition to ail which Archippus 
could urge; backed up, too, by my request. And, here [ 
would call upon you with me to adore the wisdom of God, 
who made these obscure brethren, the inflexible defenders 
of the great doctrine of forgiveness, through Christ, when 
almost all that were prominent in the church, turned away 
from the truth; and when the generality of professors all 
around them, from the o'reat D. D's. downward, united their 
testimony against them and in favor of that awful doctrine 
of disobeying the commands of God^ in order that good may 
come. But this was the fact: — and here commenced the 
contest which has been carried on ever since. Here is the 
division between Archippus with his doctrine, adherents, 
practice, and almost all the professed christian community 
©n the one hand, and the few, who have dared to contend 
for bible truth, on the other. Now, as this is the great 
point in dispute — as Archippus filially brought a charge 
atjuinst these biethren to exclude them from the chuich 



69 

for causing divisions, founded on Romans 16 — 17 — and 
because I confessed to the church that I did wrong, in fail- 
ing in with the importunities of Archippus, and requesting 
the church to exclude me, Archippus has accused me of 
shewing thereby my impenitence for my sin — and lias said 
tliat by this course of conduct, I have committed more sin; 
than if I had been the father of seven bastards — seeing I 
say all turns on this point — let us see in order to find out, 
who are really the guilty ^ unscriptur al ?iU\.\\ox^ of this divis- 
ion, whether the position, which Archippus took in respect 
to my exclusion, was according to the doctrine of Chnstor 
not. You will remember that the whole passage reads 
thus—'' Now 1 beseech you, brethren mark them which 
cause divisions and offences, contrary to the D OCT FUN E 
which ye have learned, and avoid them." Now, tlic ques- 
tion, is, where are we to go , to learn doctrine.'^ Why, the 
whole Protestant world say, (by profession^ to the bible. 
Well, if Archippus's doctrine, in the stand which he took, 
is to be found in the bible, those who opposed him, have 
been the wicked authors of a division :~but, if fkf^t/ have 
acted in accordance with the doctrine to be found in the 
scriptures, and he has opposed thern contrary to scripture, 
why, then, HE and those who are with him, are before 
GOD the GUILTY authors ofdivision. But, where is the 
bible authority for excludmg from the church a brother who 
comes before them, confesses his sin, declares he repents 
and begs for mercy — I say where is the doctrine, for xhls 
course to be found? Not in the word of God, my brother. 
No— Archippus was called upon in vain for one syllable to 
support his position, lie never produced any, that come 
any nearer to it, than my quotation respecting Miniam! — 
I, myself, asked him, if there was any direction in the 
scriptures, how a church should act in relation to such a 
case as mine.^ and he unequivocally, answered, that there 
was not — but it must be left to the judgment of the church 
or people. And this sentiment has been practically carried 
out by the great body of professors both uiinisters atid peo- 
ple m respect to my case all through this re^iuii: — and I 



70 

would ask yon, how far is this from the latitude of Rome; 
the x>IOTHF:R of HARLO is, as the Protestants say? 
Why, what is the very 6r>77e of contention between professed 
Protestants and Papists? This is it. The Catholics con- 
tend that the CHURCH, through the POPE, shall dictate 
to the people their faith and practice: — but the Protestants 
coniend ihsii this IS Ant i' Christian ; and that the naked, 
plain, and unsophisticated word of God, is the only rule of 
faith and practice. This, I say, is the profession of the 
great body of Protestants of the present day; but, if on ex- 
amination they are not found in general, to be essentially 
in their practice^ on the very ground which they so war 
against, in the Romish Church, then I am altogether mis- 
taken. Verily, this was the ground assumed by Archippus, 
and which he has ever since maintained. But how is 
it respecting the stand taken by these few brethren? Is 
this^ supported by the word of Ged ? Yes it is. The bi- 
ble is full of it. It IS in accordance with the example of 
God, who forgives and receives into his fellowship the 
greatest of sinners; the greatest of backsliders, the mamcnt 
they repent, and turn to him. And we are commanded in 
the word of God to forgive each other, " AS GOD FOR 
CHRIST'S SAKE FORGIVES US." Perhaps, there is 
no subject in the New Testament more clearly set forth — 
more clearly enjoined, by the threatning of awful penalties, 
than that of forgiving a sinning brother who turns and says 
he repents:* — Well, then these brethren clearly took the 
bible for the man of their counsel; and Archippus, opposed 
them — and if he and those who have acted with him be not 
the GUILTY authors of the division, then the bible com- 



^ The subterfuge of making a distinction, here, between 
forgiveness i\\M\ fellowship, I will attend to in its proper place; 
only just remarking now that those who urge it, to be consis- 
tant, although they may pray God to forgive them, ought not 
to ask him lo fellowship them ; i. e. forgive them, and then cafJt 
them out with cJevils! for, observe, we are to forgive each oth- 
er, as God for Cli list's sake forgives us. 



71 

mands are all null and void. Yet, the very first shew of 
scripture authority, for his proceedings in the churcli, was, 
to bring forward the afore-named passage in Romans as 
authority to excommunicate these brethren for causing di- 
visions!! But God is the judge; and moreover his word 
shall judge us in the last day ! Now, in order to see the en- 
ormity of his doctrine, 1 beg you to look at it, as he declar- 
ed it in your hearing, at your house. After I had consent- 
ed to request to be excluded from the church, he renewed 
his protestations of confidence in my piety — and of his sin- 
cere fellowship of me as a christian, and with his hand upon 
his heart, while the othei was uplifted, made the following 
memorable expression, which will never be erased from my 
mind. He said (and you heard him,) THAT WHEN 
HE LIFTED HIS HAND TO VOTE ME OUT OF 
THE CHURCH, OR TO WITHDRAW FELLOW- 
SHIP FROM ME, HE SHOULD, AT THE SAME 
TIME, FELLOWSHIP ME IN HIS HEART!!! Yes, 
here is his doctrine and practice, which, I believe, was ap- 
proved of, by the great majority of ministers and people 
through this region. I know he has since altered his po- 
sition, by saying that he does not believe me penitent: — but 
why did he alier his mind in respect to this? W^hy, be- 
cause I retracted from this awful stand, which he was the 
great means of my taking; and confessed to the church 
that I did wrong in consenting to such horrible sentiments. 
This course in me, has given him and multitudes of others, 
indubitable proof that I am impenitent! I beg of you, to 
keep your eye upon the doctrine — see what it amounts to; 
and tell me how 1 could help turning away from it with hor- 
ror. He believed me then to be a christian; truly penitent 
for my sins — in the favor and fellowship of God and an heir 
of heaven. And what did this cost^ if it were as he believ- 
ed? Why, the regenerating influences of the Almighty 
spirit of God, to make me a new creature, and the infinite 
atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ's blood and death to 
justify me; and yet, while he believed all this in his heart 
he would say to the world by lifting up his hand to with- 



draw fellowship from me, that 1 was a child of the devil, 
and destitute of religion!!! This, was what public senii^ 
ment, of which he and others have so much talked of, cal- 
led for to be done — it demanded that I should not be own- 
ed by the church a? a christian; and this act of excommu- 
nication, was to respond to the call, and say — *' Yes world ; 
it is even so as you say — and we agree with you in count- 
ing this man a publican and heathen." Now, with awful 
solemnity, I ask you what was this, if legitimately carried 
out, but counting the work of the Holy Ghost, which he 
then believed I had on my heart, the work of the devil; 
and casting out the blood of the son of God, to be trampled 
under foot by men as an unholy thing! 1 say, what else is 
it and what has saved him, and those who have acted with 
him from blaspheming against the Holy Ghost in this tran- 
saction but not doing the deed with malice in their hearts? 
The Jews, involved themselves in this great and unpardon- 
able sin, by saying, that the work of the spirit of God, was 
the work of Belzebub. They undoubtedly did it, with 
burning malice in their hearts, against the spirit of God. 
I trust it was not so with Archippus and those who have 
acted with him. Yet, at the very moment, he truly believ- 
ed, as he said, that I was a child of grace — at a moment 
when I was willing to forsake all sin, and obey every known 
command of God, he said to the world as I have just now 
hinted — '* Here, I have no fellowship for this man as a 
christian — he is in the gall of bitterness, and bonds of in- 
iquity/' Now I ask you dear brother, what was this but 
^THROWING AWAY THE WHOLE GOSPEL.'— 
Can you make any thing less of it. No. And this is what 
1 meant, in my Address to the people of Pawtucket — and 
because I have turned away from this position, out of love 
to the gospel and truth I am for so doings counted impeni- 
tent. And because these brethren never would accede to 
it, they have been charged by Archippus, his tutors and pu- 
pils, in this doctrine, as the guilty authors of divisions, and 
the destroyers of the church's peace and prosperity! O 
who could have conceived that the professed orthodox 



73 

friends of the gospel had almost lost sight of its real truths, 
so generally: — for this position of Archippus, has been, no 
doabtj as he boasted, the position of the Christian public, 
almost universally through the land. The question was 
not, whether T was a christian or not — had repented of my 
sin or not: — but, 1 must be excommunicated at all events ; 
FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE. And what cause? 
Why, the gospel cause. And what is the gospel? Why 
forgiveness to the vilesf\of sinners who turn to God: yet to 
Jorgive a vile sinner, would very much hurt the great and 
glorious doctrine of forgiveness! and not to forgive him, 
would be the best way to reduce it to practice!!!! This 
is the plain, unsophisticated illustration of the course of 
Archippus; and can but shew you, how the blessed doc- 
trme of forgiveness, preached by Christ, and the apostles; 
and was the rock on which Luther stood, to overthrow 
Popery, has been almost ©xploded by their professed disci- 
ples ; and the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of doing pen" 
ance^ according to the prescription of the Romish church, 
virtually^ at least substituted in its stead. O my brother, 
how little did I realize this state of things before my fall. 
I know not but God will make my death in this respect, the 
means of slaying more than my life. Keep this subject in 
view, I pray you, while 1 pursue my narrative in my next. 
Your •Affectionate Brother. 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER X. 

Providence, (in Prison^) Oct. 17th, 1837. 

My dear Brother : — 

You perceive I date this in prison. Yes ; I 
am followed to the extent of what is termed civil law, so far 
as imprisonment is concerned, on the complaint of that old 
friend o^ mine, that minister of the gospel (?) of whom I 
spake, in a former communication. I am sentenced to six 
months imprisonnaent, in a most loathsome prison — said to 
7 



74 

be the most loathsome in the United States. This, no 
doubt, will be food to his soul: — for it is just what he want- 
ed. IMany times have I, not only given him a trifle mjself, 
to help him in distress and want, but have again and again 
begged oi^ others, for his benefit. 1 have but little doubt, if 
you were to question the christian propriety of this conduct 
of his, but what he would do me farther injury to justify 
himself. But, I leave it. I am not sorry tliat I have tried 
to do him good. If I have opportunity, I will do huii good 
still. By the way — you here have a specimen of the 
righteousness, and equality o^ civillgovernment^ as it is ad- 
ministered in this land. For a number of months were my 
rights invaded, by a reckless mob — and my family made 
wretched, as I have shewn you: — and this, under pretence 
of driving me away — when i was put under bonds by the 
supreme tribunal of the state not to go! Did the officers 
of justice use their authority to protect me? No! but lett 
me to the mercy of these blood hounds. And moreover, I 
can prove, that one civil officer said, that he would hold 
me, to let one of my enemies beat me! This, was the pro- 
tection that the civil government gave me, when niy rights 
were invaded; yet when I was found to be a transgressor, 
I w^as visited with its utmost severity. Again — 1 believe 
that no public man in this State, has ever come out before 
the community, and humbled himself and confessed his sin, 
in the manner which 1 have done; and still f believe no 
man was ever indicted for the same offence, in this state 
before."^ Now, why is it that unbridled licentiousness, has 
rolled over this state, like a poisonous flood — bearing on 
its curreni, men from the highest official standing y down to 
the lowest black-leg, that walks the streets, and this law 
has lain dormant, lor perhaps more than a hundred years, 
until a transgressor is found, who humbles himself before 
God and man, imploring mercy and forgiveness and on him 
alone, fixes its penalty. I say why, should /have been sia- 

* I have sin(!e learned that a black man was indicted some 
years ago. I have never heard of any other instance. 



75 

gled out.'' My Drottier; not even my inveterate opposers, 
can have the face to say that it is on account of the sin — 
the crime. No! for if it were, thousands of others, would 
not pass on in the same transgression with impunity. This 
is an irresistible inference. Observe, 1 am not in this 
place j>asfcing sentence of condemnation on this law — I am 
only enquiring why /should be singled out, as the only 
man to feel \is penalty. Ah, my brother, David was not 
the only man who could utter the following words with the 
utmost propriety: '' For lo they lie in wait for my soul: the 
mighty are gathered against me: NOT FOR MY SIN, 
NOR MY TRANSGRESSIONS O LORD." No; if 
God had not enabled me by the power of truth to slay many 
Philistinesjon the field of moral conflict before my fall, I 
should not be 'grinding in the prison house.' No, it is for 
irndh which 1 have told; the good which I have done, that 
I am here. But they have noi put out my eyes! 1 see 
the pillars of the house, where the Lords and Nobles are 

"regaling themselves over my fall and wretchedness. If my 
God shall please again to give me strength, more of them 
may be slain by my death, than my life. But, although 
there needs to be a volume written on this subject, 1 must 
not enlarge.* I hasten to my narrative respecting the deal- 
ings of the church. I wish you to refresh your memory 
with the contents of my last: particularly with the point, 

.the GRAND POINT in controversy, between Arehippus 
and those who agree with him, and those brethren, whose 

* I ought injustice to say, that the'conduct of the Attorney 
General towaids me, through the whole of his official duties, 
lias, so far as I know, been gentlemanly and humane. He has 
not apf)eared disposed to inflict extra vengeance on me, to 
gratify the cravings of a revengeful appetite in himself or oth- 
er??.- AIt!ion<ih, by his official obligations, he was obliged to 
urge the [)rosecution against me; yet his conduct has been 
such, that so far from sinking him in my estimation, has laid 
me under grateful obligations to him. The High Sheriff, 
too, has ap[)eared disposed to treat me kindly. I wish I could 
say as much of all the official characters, who, have had to 
do with my case. 



76 

views I advocate. Archippus's doctrine, on which he 
started, you remember, was, that of excluding a rhristian, 
whom he believed, at that moment enjoyed the favor and 
fellowghip of God, in order to satisfy the demands of the 
world — and the others totally condemned it. You ought 
to understand in this place, that before my fall, there were 
men in the church, wlio, because I stood in t/uir waj/, and 
opposed them in what I thought to be wrong and wicked, 
seemed to hate me with a bitter hatred; and consequently, 
were ready, the moment I fell, to pounce upon me, and 
keep me down if in their power, forever. Of this number 
a prominent one, was a person, who for a number of years, 
I had loved, above, perhaps, any one in the church; but 
who, at the moment I felt compelled to oppose some of his 
conduct, arrainged his influence against me. I was now 
in a situation, in which he no doubt felt a complete tri- 
umph over me. The last time I spake with him, was to 
kneel down at his feet, and implore his forgiveness for my 
sin — and he assured me that he would not hurt me : and 
yet, I believe God knows, that he has exerted every facul- 
ty, which he possessed, to do me all the injury which he 
could, ever since. He and Archippus united heart and 
hand, in their treatment of me, with those under their in- 
fluence. And with them another person, united and throw- 
ed all of his influence against me, from whom, on account 
of the relation which he held to me, 1 might reasonably 
have hoped foi compassion. God pity them all; and shew 
them what they did in putting their feet on a fallen, implor- 
ing brother. Well, they all rallied around Archippus's 
doctrinal and practical standard: and Archippus moved 
forward in his work of cutting me in pieces. You know I 
do not mean literally. If you will not consider me childish 
and visionary^ I will here relate another dream, to explain 
my meaning. Understand, I do not build any doctrine, 
nor enforce any duty, contrary to scripture and reason from 
dreams. Nor will I say positively that the one I am now 
about to relate was from the Lord. Be that as it may; it 
will answer an excellent purpose, to illustrate Archippus's 



conduct towards me. A little girl, entirely unacquainted 
with the circumstances, when he commenced his work, 
which I shall presently more fully develope, dreamed that 
she saw him literally cut me up in inch pieces — then roast- 
ing me, and putting pgpj^er and sr?/^ on me, began to eat me : 
saying, ^' I was too good to be thrown away." Now it is 
worthy of note, that when he began his work of 'cutting 
me in pieces,' he owned as I have already shewn, that he 
believed me to be a christian — that is; " too good to be 
thrown away" — and contended that he was a great friend 
to me — that was '* eating me!" The little girl, was so af- 
fected in her sleep with the sight, and the scene was so 
sickening, that she was actually awakened with vomiting! 
Now, Archip'pus, may talk all of his days and shed tears as 
evidence, of his sincerity; yet, every impartial, disinterest- 
ed christian, in full view of his doctrine and practice, in re- 
lation to this affair, can but be heart-sick, and turn away 
with disgust: — for his doctrine. is, to count one whom he 
acknowledges to be a child of God, an heir of glory, a pub- 
lican and heathen, a child of the devil, in order to please 
the world! But 1 soon began to feel, most sensibly, his 
cuttino- strokes; for in order to maintain his'ground, he rap- 
idly developed a disposition to make the worst of my case: 
to wink, at least, at the most wicked and unfounded accu- 
sations against me, and to be a most hearty coadjutor and 
companion, of those who left no stone unturned to sink me 
to the lowest depths of wretchedness and disgrace. His 
own accusations were the most cutting, of almost any-thing 
which has ever been inflicted on me, since I had a being. 
For instance — because [ from a sense of duty, from a re- 
gard to truth and the commands of God, retracted from 
the stand which I took, in accordance with his entreaties, 
and confessed to the church, that I had done wrong in 
wishing to be excluded; he represented me as being inter- 
ested by selfish motives to get into the church: because I 
wanted to preach &c. The great day of God, when the 
secrets of all hearts are revealed, I'know, will shew him 
that this was a most false and wicked accusation. At the 



78 

very moment he made it, if the most popular denomination 
in Christendom, had freely offered me iheir fellowship and 
approbation as a. preacher, on condition of my subscribing 
their creed, and conforming to all of their maxims, it would 
have been no temptation to have acceded to the proposal. 
My dear brother, you need have no doubt of the truth of 
this. The same things would have kept me from it,, that 
kept me from such a course, before my fall — i. e. not that 
I doubt but what there are many, very many true believers 
in the different denominations; but, because as denomina- 
tions, they hold to many things which I believe to be aw- 
fully corrupt, erroneous and Anti-Christian. Never did 
I more sincerely desire to know the will of God, concern- 
ing me, nor more sincerely to do every duty than at the 
very time that Archippus was laying these things to my 
charge. He said, tliat 1 no sooner found out that the 
church was about to engage a preacherj for a year, than I 
urged my reception. He said that my friends, made use 
of the doctrine of forgiveness, as a liobby, on which to ride 
me into the church. If I maintained any regard to princi- 
ple, and was fixed and determined not to give up truth, he 
accused me o^ stubbornness. He made a great handle of 
this. I have|understood that he said the best w\y to get 
me out of the place, would be to get a hundred respectable 
men to sign a request, for me to stay; Whether he made 
this remark or not, 1 am assured that he male many, full 
as injurious, and as well calculated to set the mobocratic 
blood hounds upon me. He has ever and constantly ac- 
cused me of inducing and influencing those brethren in 
their course, who have oppossed him in his; although he 
knew, as well as he knew that he lived, that this stand was 
taken against him, at his very first start, by a number, di- 
rectly co/«^ra?'y to the advice which 1 gave them!!! Ifl 
had led them, in this righteous course, it would have been 
fiir more commendable in me, than to have submitted my- 
self to be led as I did by him, into the maizes of wicked, 
selfish expediency. But I did not lead th.em. No; 1 can- 
not claim that honor. The truth is, after 1 wrote the com- 



7a 

tnunication of retraction to tlie church, already allndcd to, 
and which has so displeased Archippus, 1 hesitated about 
sending it in, and delayed until these brethren, earnestly 
entreated me to give it into their hands, that they might 
present it. He has not only most falsely and wickedly ac- 
cused me^ but he has done them, as great injustice. How- 
ever, this was his course; and he has pursued it, in unision 
with others, to whom I have alluded, ever since. At an 
early date after my return home from those places I had 
been driven to by the mob, Archippus visited me. I learn, 
that it was from my conversation with him at this time, that 
he has gathered one of the greatest evidences of my impen- 
itence. I ventured to tell him a little truth, in respect to 
his own conduct: and this you know m view of most relig- 
ionists, who have judged of my case^ is point blank evi- 
dence of my impenitence! His doctrine, you know, was^ 
that I ought not to be in the church on account of public 
sentimeni. Now the fact was, in his own neighborhood j 
public sentiment as strongly accused him of immorality, as 
it did nic. Accordingly I applied his own rule — his own 
law which he brought forward to condemn me to himself! 
This he could not endure — and this no doubt was the con- 
clusive evidence that he obtained of my impenitence! I 
told him plainly that *' If he thought I ouoht not to be in 
the church on account o^ public sentiment, why not himself 
walk out, in obedience to the ^anie law.^" 'jiiis you will 
readily perceive, was an irresistible argument, &o far as 
truth was concerned; for, it is a proverb, no more common 
tliati true; '' That it is a bad rule, that will not work botii 
ways," But the advocates of seifibh expediency, you ob- 
serve, do not like to be governed themselves, by the laws 
which they enact for others. Archipjms, was now in a di- 
lemma. And how has he tried to extricate himself? Why, 
one way has been, by makmg a great ado, about my hard 
talk to him. This, he has dwelt upon ever since; and 
tiiere is no telling how many he has prejudiced against me, 
and induced them (o believe me impenitent by telling tliem 
oi'my hard talk to him. No doubt it was a haul arginmnt 



80 

— for by his own law lie was condemned; but I am no^ 
conscious that there was any thing harder than that con- 
nected with it. Indeed, suppose my manner had been ever 
so hard, what difference did that make to the argument? — 
The question was, if he really thought.it my duty to God 
and his people, to go outofthe church, because public sen- 
timent condemned me qs being destitute of religion, why 
was it not his duty, in obedience to the same public senti- 
ment to take hi??isclf out of the way? This question he has 
never fairly answered. Nor can he answer it fairly with- 
out admitting my inference — nor can any of his supporters 
answer it any other way; and thus out of their own mouths, 
are they condemned before God and man! This, as tlie 
lawyer said to the farmer, altered the case — and this, as I 
before said, brought Archippus into a dilemma; and now 
for an expediency twisty in order to get clear. And what 
was it? Why he says, '' No one of the charges against 
me was ever proved to be true!" Well, suppose for argu- 
ments sake, they never had been proved, yet, if public sen- 
timent said they were true, what difference did it make? — 
For his doctrine was, that PUBLIC SENTIMENT, was 
the criterion to determine Whether a man shall belong to 
the church; and not the truth! Was not this his doctrine 
\vhich he started upon? Which he advocated at your 
house, when he made that memorable expression, '^ That 
when he lifted his hand to withdraw fellowship from me, 
he should at the same moment fellowship me in his heart?" 
And why would he lift his hand to pretend to withdraw fel- 
lowship from me in view of the world at the moment he 
really fDlIowshipped me in his heart? Why; because pub- 
lic sentiment bid him— therefore whether the charges were 
true or false, if public sentiment said they were, he ought, 
to have been consistent, to ha\ e obeyed its commands, an I 
walked out of the church !! This is logic that I know to be 
invulnerable; a child can see that it cannot be overthrown: 
and thus you see the dilemm?, in which Archippus was 
placed. But to proceed. "Not one of the charges (he said) 
has been proved aga'nst me." Archippus has left me no oth- 



81 

er resort but to meet him here. I dread to do it — but it mu.-t 
be done or I cannot place the whole subject before you as 
truth demands. Well, the charges, at best, were that he 
had grossly insulted a number of females. I will give his 
own disposal of one of them. A woman that lived in his 
house, and was and still is a respectable member of one 
of the largest churches m Pawtucket, made this charge 
against him, ' That he so haunted her with licentious over- 
tures, or unchaste insults, that she dare not stay alone in 
her tenement; and did actually request her neighbor's chil- 
dren to come in and stay with her, on that account" — this 
was the amount of it, as can be abundantly proved. Well 
Archippus disposes of it in the following way, in a confes- 
sion to a number of individuals— *^ That he prevailed oa 
her to consent to commit adultery with him, and then he 
refused to commit the act!" I say this is the amount of his 
confession. I make this remark, because you very well know 
that if you accuse many persons of making a statement, if 
you do not get the exact words they will deny it — but all 
that truth demands, is to get the import — and this I have 
done. I will give the testimony of one witness in this 
place, with the assertion^ that there are a number of others, 
that can be brought forward to testify to the same, if the 
facts are disputed. This one is Mrs. W. — already referred 
to, and 1 prefer to bring her forward, because she and Ar- 
chippus are iioio most heartily united, in their conduct tow- 
ards me. You must bear with any indelicacy in the ex- 
pressions, if you think there is any; for the circumstances 
require me to give you her testimony. Her statement be- 
fore a number of witnesses was this — '' Why (said she) 
he confessed to me, that he worked upon her, until he got 
her willing, and then went off and left her — and who (said 
she,) can help being mad with such a man as that." — 
Moreover, she said, '* 1 had covered up, his cheating and 
conniving, until I had nothing^left to cover up with." Ob- 
serve I do not charge him with cheating and conniving; but 
this is Mrs. W's, testimony, which she repeated over and 
over again, and which she will not now deny: if she does, 



82 

a host of witnesses are ready to testify that she did. Yet 
this same woman, suhsequenlly, in order to carry on her 
WRV against n)e, took him into her fellowship, notwithstand- 
ing his positive denial before the church, that he had made 
any such confession as she here declares she heard him 
make! According to her own testimony, how careful she 
was not to fellowship iniquity! And yet, this is the very 
woman who would not say that she vyould forgive me when 
1 implored it of her on my knees — and who has pretended 
to be so afraid of fellowshiping sin, that she could not 
fellowship the church, if I were in it, and some others, 
whose piety, at least, in my opinion, would not suffer in 
comparison with her own. my brother, how crooked are 
the workings of selfishness. I told you that by my fall, the 
thoughts of many hearts have been revealed. Now if this, 
woman's testimony is not true, then Archippus is fellow- 
shiping a person that has awfully lied about him — with 
his eyes open too. But if it he true, then what becomes of 
his assertion, that he never made such a confession? — 
Again, if her testimony 25 true, then is she fellowshiping 
awful iniquity; herself being witness. In the name of truth^ 
I ask you to look at this. And these are the folks, who 
have since my fall, held me by the throat with an inexora- 
ble grasp, while they have thrust me through and through, 
or, as the little girl dreamed, cut me in pieces. how 
conscientiously scrupulous they have appeared to be, about 
who they fellowshiped!! But to return — here is his own 
confession, according to the testimony of ot.e of his present 
advocates and coadjutors; and yet he declared, that not 
one of the charges had ever been proved against him — 
would not confess that he had done any thing immoral — 
and has said that even the Moral Reform Society, would 
not consider his conduct immoral! My brother, here you 
see the effects of travelling in the road of selfish expedien- 
cy. If that man had kept out of it, I have no idea that he 
would ever have made such crooks as this — but any man 
that undertakes a passage on it, will act in a similar man- 
ner: — tor, there is not a straight place an inch long, the 



i 



83 

whole length of it. Behold what crooked work even Abra- 
ham made, when he undertook to travel it by denying that 
Sarah was liis wife! In God's name, I warn you never to 
put your foot upon it. But to return; this was the stand 
taken by Archippus, that none of these charges had been 
proved against him — that he had done nothing immoral, 
and that what he meant by his confession, respecting giv- 
ing an occasion, was that he had been light and trifling in 
his conversation, &c! With this position, many of God's 
most devoted children in the cisurch, were exceedingly 
grieved. They considered it to be virtually taking back 
what they understood tliat he meant by his confession, and 
a flat contradiction of what he had himself confessed to a 
number of individuals; and they finally determined to call 
him to an account before the church to reconcile his own 
statements at least. But what next.^ Why the hue and 
cry was now raised, that he was opposed only because he 
would not fellowship me — that on this account they uere 
determined to get hini out of the church — that I was at the 
bottom of it, and that we should not rest until all who were 
opposed to me, were excluded. You can hardly imagine 
how generally this was believed — and yet without the least 
foundation in truth. If I can judge at ail by conduct and 
conversation, the undivided desire of us all was, that he 
might be humble — do as he ought, m making as limited a 
confession as the nature of the case woiild admit, and re- 
main in the church. This was the burden of hours of pray- 
er. But his statement was enough. Under this cover he 
seemed to rest secure from the wrath of that public senti- 
ment, to which he has all along, so reverentially bowed. 
In the mean time Mrs. W. was abundant in her labors 
against me — decrying me down and making my case look 
as aggravating as possible. I'his went a great way with 
many: she being looked upon, as a woman of such extra- 
ordinary piety. Every report against me, however un- 
founded she seemed to take pleasure in circulating. — 
Among others, she asserted that my family had for a long 
time been jealous of me. Aiy eldest daughter, grieved at 



84 

sucli an apparent disposition to folloiv her fallen father, with 
the poisonous weapons of slander and false accusations, 
sent a letter into the church, contradicting the assertion, 
respecting the jealously of my family. Mrs. W. declared 
that she lied ! This daughter, so far as 1 know, had always 
been beyond the least just reproach, in her morals. If I 
were disposed to boast of the virtue of relatives, none could 
have better ground to speak in the highest terms of com- 
mendation than I, of this beloved child. But every thing 
that stood in the way of Mrs. W. — in " persecuting him 
whom God had smitten," and in " talking to the grief of 
those whom he had wounded," must take the lash of her 
tongue: and from hence my virtuous and innocent child, 
must be branded by her as a liar. I pray God, that she 
may remember, that he who hath said, "thou shalt not 
commit adultery," hath also said thou *^ shalt not bear false 
witness," and that she may repent of her awful transgress- 
sions of this holy commandment. I shall pursue this nar- 
rative in my next. 

/ remain most affectionately Yours, 

RAY POTTER. 



LE TTER XL 
Providence, (In PrisonJ Oct. 17th. 1837. 
Mi/ dear Brother : — 

In this communication, you must indulge me 
with a little repetition. In the close of my last, in shewing 
the cordial fellowship, which existed finally, between Ar- 
chippus and Mrs. VV. I rather anticipated, what more 
properly belonged in another place. I should first have 
told you how this union of heart was brought about. This 
you will now soon learn. I hasten to the narrative. The 
course pursued by Mrs. W. was extremely grievous to 
many in the church, who fell disposed to obey the law of 
love and mercy, enjoined upon them by God towards a 
fallen brother- 

As 1 hinted in mv last, in nretcndinsr to shew indiffrn^- 



85 

tion, at luy sin she most aggravatingly transgressed anoth- 
er command of the decalogjue. 1 mean that which forbids 
bearing false witness. This, she did, not only by accusing 
my daughter of lying, in the manner already alluded to in 
my last, but by taking up every report, however false, that 
was injurious to me, to sink me as low as possible in dis- 
grace: lor you will perceive that /A/s was the only way that 
she, and others who acted with her, could keep themselves 
in countenance, in refusing to shew me mercy. But what 
could be done? »*he was considered ^pattern of piety — a 
saint o^ihejirst class; and was now especially applauded 
by those who were jealous of my ever rising again. Those, 
who were grieved with her conduct, readily enough antic- 
ipated the consequences of instituting against her a course 
of discipline. On this gross assault, however, on the char- 
acter of my daughter, they felt as if duly demanded their 
action; accordingly, she was complained of before the 
church on a charge of slander. I will venture to say that 
it was a righteous and just accusation. But what next? 
Why, Archippus, who, but a few months before, had been 
incessant in his complamts against her, for slandering him- 
self; who declared he was never talked so hard to, by any 
person as by her — yes, the same woman who had just been 
so offensive to him all at once became remarkably agreea- 
ble! He unqualifiedly rose up in her justification, at the 
onset; carrying the idea constantly that she was only com- 
plained of, because she was opposed to me. And now, al- 
so, Mrs. W. all at once become mightily in favor ot Archip- 
pus: the man, that but a short time before, she declared 
she believed to be guilty o^ worse licentious conduct, than 
any before alluded to — who declared that he made the con- 
fession in her presence, and that of a respectable member 
of the Baptist church, which I stated in my last — and, who 
not only charged him of being guilty of all this, but also 
declared that she had covered up, and covered up his 
cheating and conniving, until she had nothing left to cov- 
er up with!! Now, all at once I say, she heartily fellow- 
shiped him; without the least retraction on his part, since 
8 



&6 

she had made these charges — for she made them Again and 
again, nfter his confession to the church, wherein he ack- 
nowledged that he had *' given an occasion" &c. What 
do you think of this? Is it incredible? But if she or Ar- 
chippus denied one panicle of it, an overwhelming cloud 
of respectable witnesses are at hand, to prove every iota 
of it. Now I wish to stop, here, long enough to ask one 
or two plain questions: — If this woman opposed me out of 
love to God and his holy law, because I had sinned, how 
was it, that at the same instant she could lake into the 
arms of her fellowship a man, who was guilty of what she 
declared him to be? 1 leave to your candor to decide if 
she has not here clearly detected herself — cavght herself, 
as the proverb is; and developed the mo//re that influenced 
her — namely, selfishness: — for, observe, at the moment she 
needed Archippus^s help, and he began to help her, she 
took him into her fellowship, though she had before so un- 
qualifiedly condemned him. It will avail nothing for her 
to say, that it was all settled; he having been before the 
church, and asked forgiveness:-— for, as I before stated, 
she repeated these charges against him aj^ain and again 
after he went before the church: and it was after this, too, 
that she declared she could not fellowship him — that she 
could not take bread from his hands at the communion — 
and that she seated herself so as to avoid it. Now one of 
two things is incontrovertibly true; she was either guiltyof 
a course of most outrageous, and wicked slander and lying, 
in respect to Archippus, or, in fellowshiping him, she has 
fellowshiped awful iniquity. Let her take which horn of the 
dilemma she pleases. She must take one or the other. If 
the first be true, ought such unlimited confidence to be 
placed in her talk about others, as has been by many? If 
the second be true, how much are her pretensions worth, 
about refusing me fellowship (although I implored her for- 
givness on my kness) for fear of fellowshiping iniquity. — 
Now, whether I am a saint or devil, makes no difference 
here. I state facts; and you perceive that she is brought 
into this dilemma, by her own testimony, 1 give this 




87 



woman's conduct such a prominence in this place, for two 
reasons: one is because she has been often quoted as au- 
thority why I should not be fellowshiped. No one person, 
perhaps, has had the influence in this neighborhood to crush 
me that she has had. It would be said, '* There is that 
godly old mother in Israel — she says so and so, and it must 
be so." Another object I have in view, is, to shew how 
easily we may be deceived in respect to the motives which 
influence us. How deceitful is the human heart! I doubt 
not but that woman, at times, has made herself believe that 
she was opposed to me from holi/ motives. I must confess 
in this place, that her conduct towards me since my fall is 
a just chastisement from God; however wicked it has been 
in hei — for, I for a long time, almost^ if not quite, idolized 
her as a saint — 1 believe she become extremely Pharisaical 
and lifted up, and when 1 fell, her pride was deeply morti- 
fied. She became angry; and in order to maintain her 
high standing for piety, with many, it was necessary for 
her to oppose me. I trust she has been a subject of grace 
and I pray God that she may be brought to a humble re- 
pentance for doing as she has done. In her conduct, you 
may have an illustration, too, of that of most who have act- 
ed with her. For instance; the person, who took such 
unwearied pains to make me out hliar — who was so appar- 
ently conscientious about not fellowshiping me for fear 1 
was not penitent — yet when Archippus's conduct was laid 
down before him, in all of its enormities, he hesitated not 
a moment to take it up and swallow it, as if it were honey! 
And so with many others. Now this proves one thing to 
a demonstration: — Admitting they wei^e opposing sin in mr: 
they could not oppose it from a right motive^ while they fel- 
lowsiiiped it in him; and it is a truth uhich ought to have 
a most Bojemn hearing from all men — 7V/r//, to oppose sin 
from a ivrnng MO'J'IVK, icill as svrdy condemn us in the 
sight of God^ and if we die in it, iritl as sirrdy shut us up 
in hrll^ as to commit adultery. My object in these commu- 
niG;Uion6,is,to bring out truth froni circumstances connected 
withjnj' tfill- and I think here is one of vast importance; 



88 

but which is generally overlooked. I return from (his long di- 
gression to my narrative. The note was now sounded 
longer and louder than ever, that Archippus and Mrs. W. 
were assailed, and brought before the church solely be- 
cause they were opposed to me. This was I think, gene- 
rally believed. No matter what was said to the contrary. 
No matter what protestations were made that there were 
just and scriptural grounds, for a course of discipline with 
them: — the extraordinary piety of Mrs. VY. swept all of 
these protestations and arguments before it. The voice 
of a penitent sinner, crying for mercy could not be heard 
in the midst of the clamor. Another thing very much help- 
ed them in these declamations. The brethren who called 
Archippus and Mrs. W. to an account, ventured to call for 
an inquiry into a certain charge against the person alluded 
to, in my last, as evidently owing Uic a grudge, before 
my fall, and who has so industriously labored, since^ to in- 
jure me. The same construction was put on this that was 
put on the other cases. Here, was a three-fold cord which 
they thought was not easily broken. Here, according to 
their testimony were three innocent persons, falseli/ accus- 
ed and brought before the church, simply and soleii/, be- 
cause they would not fellowship iniquity in me. 

The Apostle says that '^ charity covereth a multitude of 
sins:" but this doctrine of the apostle was evidently re- 
versed by them. They practiced on the principle that my 
sin, covereth a multitude of sins in themselves !! Yes, my 
sin, although I had repented of it and asked forgiveness, 
was a sufficient covering for all of ^//^zV iniquities — howev- 
er numerous and aggravating. Only join the army in de- 
nouncing and crying me down, and they w( re instantly 
made whole. Here was instant cure for their own Irp- 
rosy! My brother, you may stare but this is not a fable — 
Was not this demonsirated in the practice of Arcl ippus and 
Mrs. W. in their conduct towards each other? It was not 
confined to them. It became quite general. I am afraid 
that many will go to the judgment, without any other cov- 
ering for their inquiities. Deceived souls, will they find 



§9 

tiiemseives to be, if on this ground, they adventure into 
eternity and appear before God! I forgot to mention in 
its proper place, that those who meant to stand on bible 
ground in respect to my case, gained ground — i. e. many 
who through the sophistry of Archippus voted for my ex- 
chision, saw the wickedness of his doctrine, repudiated .it, 
and in a short time, the vote of exclusion was reversed, 
and I was restored to the fellowship of the church* But 
now, was a favorable tin e, for Archippus and his associates 
to make a grand effort again, to carry his points. The sto- 
ry that my friends were bent upon excluding liim^ and a 
number of other innocent persons from the church, solely 
because they were r?j9/^05er/ ^0 me^ answered his purpose 
admirably. Before my fall, it was almost impossible to get 
a person out of the church, though their conduct were no- 
toriously wicked; for Archippus would almost always meet 
a motion for exclusion, with a pioposition to delay ; and 
there were many persons retained, utterly unfit for fellow- 
ship. Now nothing could equal his zeal to cleanse the 
church by getting rid of me. He moved tbrward in what 
7«c termed this work of God! There were a number of 
persons scattered through the country, whose names were 
on the church book, but who could only be termed nominal 
members, because they had not for a long time, appeared 
to interest themselves at all in its concerns. Some of them 
had been absent for years, without ever attending a church 
meeting. Three or four who resided in Sutton, a distance 
of twenty-five miles, I believe were never in a church 
meeting at all. Two or three of thsse vsere relatives of 
Archippus. He now commenced his work of visiting thes^e 
scattering members, j)reparatory to making an effort to 
cleanse the church. I believe he spent about a week of 
constant riding through the country ,fto warn them to attend 
church meeting. As F have already said, liis st .ry. that 
my friends were designing to exclude him and anurDberof 
other innocent persons from the churcli, solely becruse they 
would not fellowship iniquity, was well calculated to pre- 
pare them for action. The time arrived for church meet- 



90 

ing. It appeared that of ma/e members present, there \va3 
a small jnajorily, wijo were more or less, under tlie intiii- 
ence of his views — t!ie l)ret!»reii on the other side, having 
had httle apprehension of his undertaking to etfcct his pur- 
poses; and had not exerted themselves as t ^ey otherwise 
might have done, to gather in those who were coidialiy 
with them. I'he first thing to be done, was, to have liis 
own case, that of iMrs. W. and the other person alluded to, 
dismissed from farther consideration. You will remember 
that this was a meeting for cleansino^ the church: I mean 
this was the profe^sed object of Archippus. I ought to 
have stated of the whole numb* r present, males and fe- 
males, there was a large majority against him. Alihough, 
from the first constitution of the church, up to the time 
this difficulty commenced, the right of the female members 
to have a voice in respect to who they should fellowship, 
was never before questioned, yet now it was stoutly denied 
by Archippus and iiis party. If females have no rigiit to 
sat/ who they will fellowship, then it legitimately follows, 
that they are not subjects of fellowship themselves This 
is clear — and sufficiently shews, the abomination of the 
doctrine maintained in respect to their rights, by many 
churches and professors. They would act nobly, in with- 
drawing from all chirches who virtually tell them that they 
have no conscience by denying them the privilege ofsayiig 
who they will fellowship and who they will not. But to re- 
turn; the wo\'\^ of cleansing the churchy now goes on. Ar- 
chippus gets up, and by way of explaining what he meant 
in his former confession, that he " had given an occasion," 
&c. he did all which he could to make the impression on 
the mmds of those who were unacquainted with the facts, 
that his fault only consisted in light and trifling talk! He 
has also strove, to make the impression, that my friends 
raised and circulated the reports respecting him, to injure 
him because he was opposed to me — uhen the truth v\as, 
that these reports were freely talked of, by a number of tiie 
members of another church (who now indeed api^ear to have 
great fellowship for him!) before my friends, or mycelf had 



9t 

Scarcely heard a lisp of ihem:— ^and long before my falh 
and of course, before any difficulty existed between hiai 
and us, in respect to my case. Before my fail, too, they 
became connnon ialky in the neighborhood among saints 
and sinners — and in view oi'thls, he come before the churcii 
and made his confession already alludtd to. 1 well le- 
member, and no d^jubt he well remembers how he seemed 
after returning from a certain camp meeting, about the 
time he made his confession, in view of these same reports 
respecting him, and in view of them he talked of wlthdrciD' 
ingfrow his official station in. the church — This was all be- 
fore my fail, and yet he now comes forward and charges 
us with raising and circulating these reports about him, 
because he would not fellowship me!!! Where is con- 
science?* In vain was it, that two or three men arose 
and declared that iie had made the confession to them^ al- 
ready alluded to, of his prevailing with a certain person, 
&c. The design, was, to cleanse the churchy and it was 
important that he and his coadjutors should be retained, 
however gross their wickedness, and however stoutly they 
denied it. Any />r^o/ therefore, concerning his conduct 
was out of order! My brother 1 state sober facts — provea- 
b!e facts. Mai k, this revelation of hearts—this mode of 
cleansing the church. I think it likely that it is a fair spec- 
imen of the mannei in which most of the churches will be 



^ Ail of these misrepresentations and false accusations rrmst 
remain untouched, or J must tell the trutli in respect jo Ar- 
chipus's course. Whi<*h ought to be done? Most certainly 
the TRUTH ought to be told, hiswevei trying to my feelings to 
tell it in respect to this conduct of his; and however cnttifig 
to him to hear it. He knows, as well as lie knows that \\q 
has a soiil, that these reports were in brief circulati )n 
respecting him before my fall: and that none gave tliem a 
greater currency, thais Mrs. W.---his jnow firm supporter. 
In the name of truth then, how can he now come forward, 
and try to make the impression, that tliey were raise and cir- 
culated by us, l)ecause he was opposed to me? Can he die in 
peace, without taking thit Ijack? 



92 



cleansed previou.-? to the Millenium! Rut where will the 
w heat be found? But in go on. Archipptis unequivocally, 
denied, that he had nriade any such confession, or that he 
had done any thinir imintiral! T'heresat Mrs. W. and lieard 
tlicse fl^t denials iVom her brother. She v\as called upon 
t(j kn >\v if he had not made such a confession in her pres- 
ence.' SSie wai Silent. A sister v\ho sat by her, and who 
had tbrmerly heard her denounce Archippus in the strong- 
est terms, said to her, ^' Sister, did you not tell me that he 

made such a confession to you and Mrs. .'" But 

Mrs. W. was silent. In astonishment, with earnestness, 
she again put the interrogation. In a whisper , Mrs. W. 
answered — " Yes'' — but, said she, '• I don't want to say 
any thing about it now 1 1" You see, dear brother, she was 
earnestly engaged with Archippus in cleansing the church: 
and in order to effect this, it was indispensible to retain a 
man that she has not only just betore denounced, as being 
guilty of abominable conduct towards females, but concern- 
ing whom she said, '^ I have covered up, and covered up 
his cheating and conniving, until I have nothing left to cover 
up with I" It seems, however, she now had found some- 
thing to cover up the conduct of her brother — he had turn- 
ed too, to lend her a helping hand, when arraigned for her 
or€n misconduct. Do not once tnink that I am trifling. — 
No, G;od torbid. I am, as I before said, stating provtable 
facts. 1 know it is an awful thing that ever such a farce 
should be acted out, under the pretence of cleansing a 
church — but so it was: and I call upon you again, as we 
pass along, to notice the revelation of the thoughts of many 
hearts in connexion with these transactions. Well, the 
three cases were ail dropped; and then up gets .Archppus's 
right hand man, and made a motion to exclude six brethren 
at one sweep! Myself^ with five others. You know the 
pretence for excluding me — but as for the other ^sq^ not 
a shad )W of an accusation, was brought against them, only 
ftjr causing divisions. This was urged by Archippus with 
all of his power. You remember, that I cleat ly proved, in 
a former commun -cation that he, and his coadjutors were 



.1 



93 

the .^7/1% authors of this division. He had taken a stand 
in opposition to the doctrine oijorgivencss, commanded by 
God in his word:--and, because these brethren would not 
go with him, a division was the consequence — and now he 
comes forward and charges tie guilt which belonged to 
himself ^x\A party, to them; on Ifda charge urged their ex- 
clusion from the church! I said the motion was to exclude 
six at a time— for, observe; if they had token one at a time, 
they could not have carried the vote: for although the fe- 
male members were prohibited by them from voting, and 
although there appeared to be a small majority oT male 
members, that in some things were with Archippus, yet 
wlien this work was brought forward of voting out these 
breihren, against whom, no accusation of any scriptural 
validity could be brought, some of them shrunk. Tliev 
could not have the hardihood to go with him in this awful 
work. So it was necessary, in order to carry the vote to 
put up six at a time. You plainly see, that by such a course 
a minority of fifteen could vote down a majority of twenty. 
From this coutse of proceedihg, however it is evident there 
was no voliditi/, in their pretended votes of exclusion; even 
if there had been no other scriptural objection to it. B'lt 
1 will .speak of their proceedings as Archippus and his party 
are wont to understand them, that their conduct may ap- 
pear in its true light. Thus then, were these brethren ex- 
cluded; and, in the course of the evening, six or seven 
more, who declared themselves with them. As to the 
charncter of these twelve brethren, (I leave out mvstlf) I 
am not influenced by partiality, when T say, that Uiey in 
general g^\e good evidence of deep devotion to God, ahd 
ardent piety. i was intimate u ifh' a nnmher ofthern — saw 
their walk, from day to day, and I knov/ not, that I have 
ev r bet n acquainted with any men, who appeared more 
sincerely to desire to know the ui 1 of Txod and do it, than 
they, 'f'hey were men of deep devotion to God ifone may 
judg.- from the closest observation of their conduct and eoii- 
versation. But they must be thrust out. This, according 
to Archippus's views, wa3 t/6r/;i:»7//^^ the church: and he 



94 



boasted, (T understood, ") that he had done the greatest 
work tor God, that u et k and on that evening, that ever he 
did in the same length of time in his life! I agree witb 
him, that there was great [)rogress made that evening in 
cleansing the church: — but, I should probably differ from 
him on some other points of vast importance. Now, in re- 
s})ect to tlie character of his party, / will not ui dertake to 
decide: but if they vvere to be judged by their ovm testimv' 
Ui/ concerning each other, a short time previous to this 
am'djrnniation^xi would appear in no enviable light — I mean 
that of many of them. This, will apply to Archippus and 
Mrs \W as I have already shewn, but not more appropri- 
ately than to a nutnber of the rest. For instance, he who 
on that memorable evening acted as mocUrator^ had borne 
a strong testimony against the u ickedness as he said of him 
who maJe the rriotion for exclusion; and vice versa. But 
as [ tol 1 yon, my sin, covered the whole! they were in 
union and harmony in opposing and excludmg one who 
had cfuifcsserl his sin and asked forgiveness; and they 
seemed to be in union and harmony in fellowshiping* those, 
w ho according to tlieir own testimony, had behaved very 
wickedly, but vvho positively refused to confess, and a^k 
forgiveness. I pray you to remember this snrnple of church 
cleansing. I expect there will be much of it, before the 
church of God is delivered from Babylonish captivity. — 
No V x\rchippus and his party had the credit, with popular 
professors, o^ re all if rljinsing the church! One of them 
said it made him think of the triumph of Mordecai over 
Hiunan! But there was an vndrr current here — through 
the whole of this, which you have not yet seen In a com- 
munication which I intend to make you, on the power of 
selfish sectar!anism,^(leveloped in circunistances connecti'd 
with my fall, [ shall give you a view of it. I forbear to re- 
mark in this place, on the course pursued by Archippus 
and his party in the sncirty rnccfins^^ in order to secure tho 
control of the meeting houf-e. It was of a piece with all 
the rest* And now my brother, 1 have said all which I 
^See next pag*^, 



95 

shall say respecting the dealings of the church, in my ca«=e. 
As I have already said the recital of many of tiiese things, 
has been painful to me, in the extreme. I pray )ou to 
think as favorably as you can, of those persons who have 
erred in these transactions. Some of them 1 ho[)e are th'? 
subjects of grace; but having adopted the doctrine of ex- 
ptdiency for their creed, tbeir practice has been w hat might 
have been expected from such a theory. And iiere 1 uouid 
remark that the doctrine o{ expediency^ has not often had a 
more clear practical illustration, than in the conduct of Ar- 
chippus and his party through the v\hole of these transac- 
tions. Behold its enormities, and where it hasled hin)! I 
pity him, and would not have spoken of his faults, if 1 could 
have consistently avoided it. But one of two things must 
be done — either the truth of God must be trampled under 
foot, and a number, who have tried, 1 believe, withall their 
hearts to support it, lie under false imputations or the story 
must be told. And he of all men should be one of the last 
to complain — for if under pretence of helping the cause of 
truth he pursues the course which he has, certainly he can- 
not find fault, if to benefit the same cause, his own proceed- 
ings are exposed. As to the sentiments which I have ad- 
vanced, 1 leave it to impartial persons to judge, whether 
they, or those advocated by Archippus, are most in accord- 
ance with the truth as ii is revealed in the word of God. 
In my next, I intend to entertain you with a more agreeable 
subject. In the mean time 1 pray you once more, not to 
forget this specimen of church cleansing — for 1 apprehend 

* The sociETT stood on a diflTerent ground from any other 
in ihe state which I know of, excepting one. The church, 
by the act of incorporation was made a body politic to hold 
property. Consequently every meiwber of the church, 
male and female, were members of the society. But what 
sort of membership is that of a society which has the control 
of property, if the menjber has no voice~-no right to act! Yet 
ibis was the ground which was taken, and by it, the females 
were robbed of their property ; I mean those who did not see 
fit to join hands with Arcliippus's party. 



9G 

that a great shaking among the professed churches of God^ 
is at the doors: when those who sit more by vieeiing houses 
and popular apphiuse, tlian they do by the truth, as it iQ 
Jesus will be made manifest! 

/ remain most afectionately Yours^ 

KAY POTTER. 
P. S. I have just heard a person say, that while in a 
Lawyer's office m this city, the person v^ho made the mo- 
tion to exclude the members alluded to, in the foregoing 
narrative, accompanied by a person, who, by the descrip- 
tion, no doubt was Archippus, were consulting a Lawyer, 
as to what course tliey should pursue, in order to get the 
control of the meeting-house: — and the Lawyer advised 
them to exclude a number of the other party j as the only 
effectual method. So it comes out, that Archippus got his 
counsel for CLEANSING THE CHURCH from a law- 
yer!!! R. P. 



LETTER Xn. 

Providence, (in Prison J Oct. 2 1st, 1837. 

My dear JSrothcr : — 

1 mentioned in my last, that in my next 
communication, 1 should direct your mind to a more agree- 
able subject. It is truly, more pleasing to dwell on the 
virtues of our fellow beings, than to depict their errors and 
sins. In my former conmunications, I have been obliged, 
in duty, to speak of my own great transgressions, and of 
some of the unholy conduct of those, who, I conceive, have, 
as greatly sinned, in persecuting me, when smitten of God Jj 
But, however painful the recital has been, both to you and 
me — and I can truly say, it has filled me with sorrow — yet, 
a contemplation of it, in contrast with what I am now about 
to lay before you, will serve more clearly to exhibit the 
moral amiableness, of the spirit of that Jesus, who came 
into the world to save sinners; as acted out in the conduct 
of some of his followers, towards me, in my deep distress, 



97 

and deep disgrace. Before I speak, particularly, of the 
few in Pavvtucket, who in relation to this affecting scene, 
I fully believe, have followed closely in the foot-steps of 
their divine master, I will call your attention to some other 
individuals residing at a distance; and who, I think, cannot 
with any plausibility, be accused of being moved by any 
selfish considerations to pursue the course of conduct tow- 
ards me, which I am about to describe. When I was at 
brother Cornel's, soon after I left your house, and in the 
forlorn state, which T have already spoken of; and when, 
with the utmost propriety, I could say with the Psalmist, 
S' I ivas a reproach among all of my enemies, but especially 
among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance; they 
that did see me, fled from me — for I have heard the slan- 
der of many: fear was on every side:" I say when in this 
distressed, forsaken, despised and persecuted state — having 
fled from my home to escape the violence of a mob: the 
following letter was brought to me, from Gerrit Smith, of 
Peterborough, New-York; which I have already adverted 
to, and which I promised to lay before you in its proper 
place. You know by reputation this man. His name, has 
long since sounded through the land, and I was about to 
say, through the world — as a kind of second Howard. — 
Now why was not this man afraid of losing his character, 
by sendmg such a letter to a poor sinner like me in the 
deepest disgrace? I will answer for you, by asking why 
the adorable Jesus was not afraid of losing Ms character in 
visitmg a world of fallen, degraded sinners — infinitely more 
disgraced in his sight than I could possibly be in the sight 
of any finite being: — I say why was not he afraid of losing 
his character in visiting such a world? And after coming, 
receiving sinners and eating with them — taking into the 
arms of his fellowship and love, penitent p2/6/zcan5 and/iflrr- 
lots^ and saying to the disgraced and despised thief on the 
cross, '^This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." — 
Was Jesus afraid that the holy Angels would despise him, 
for such conduct as this? The Pharisees did despise him 
for it. That, was one of his worst offences, in their view — 
9 



98 

that he kept company with those, who, in Iheir estimation, 
were disgraced sinners. The Pharisees hare acted out the 
same spirit, precisely, towards those who have visited, and 
shewn mercy to me, in my wretched state: but the Angels 
of God; adored Jesus, for visiting fallen and disgraced sin- 
ners, and 1 beheve the same holy Angels, have gazed with 
infinite delight on the Christ-like conduct of Gerrit Smithy 
and others, for similar conduct towards me. Now my dear 
brother, if you wish to bring old times up in full view — the 
scenes which were acted by Jesus on the one hand, and the 
Pharisees on the other, in the days of his flesh — I say if 
you wish to have the conduct of Jesus, and the conduct of 
the Pharisees, brought up in full vieiv before you, side by 
side — take this letter, and lay it by the side of the conduct 
of those ministers and professors, who since my fall have 
denied me mercy — been deaf to my cries of distress, and 
have done nothing, but to try to aggravate my case, and thus 
to sink me into despair — do this and you will have a por- 
trait of both. Here it is. Mark every sentiment, every 
sentence, and every word; and tell me, if it does not look 
to you as if God designed it, for the very purpose of shew- 
ing the contrast alluded to. 

Peterboro' March, 5, 1837. 
Elder Ray Patter: 
My dear Brother. — You will perhaps say that you are 
not worthy to be called my brother. But I say that you 
are; and that the honest hearted, full, and precious confes- 
sion of your sin, makes me feel unworthy to be called your 
brother. Christ loves best, not him who has committed the 
fewest and least heinous sins, but him who has the most 
penitent heart. I do not write this letter to direct you to 
the never failing source of consolation. You are more fa- 
miliar with it, than I am — and I doubt not that you are 
richly experiencing its comforting and healing power. I 
write to let you know that 1 pity and pray for you — and 
that I most tenderly sympathise with your dear vife and 
children and church, and the cause of humanity and relig- 
on, all of which your great sin has deeply wounded. I 



99 

write also to let you know that my love for you, is unabat- 
ed. Indeed I can truly say, that I love you better than I 
loved you before 1 heard of your fall. Dear Charles 
Stewart who is with me, says that he too loves you more 
than he used to do. The deep repentance of your trans- 
gression has increased his confidence in your christian in- 
tegrity. ** Courage brother," said the good man who vis- 
ited Dodd in prison, " God saw that nothing else would 
do for you." And so would I bid you take courage,^and 
believe with all your heart, that God saw that nothing else 
but this deep fall would do for you. Perhaps you had one 
of my besetting sins, pride of character — Iovjs of the esteem 
of your fellow-men; and that the disgrace with which you 
have overwhelmed yourself, is the corrective and cure, 
which your Heavenly Father has provided for this sin. — 
Pray for me, my dear brother, that the like sin may be sub- 
dued at a less expense; but that at all events it may be 
subdued* 1 have often thought that God would leave me to 
perpetrate some enormous sin, utterly destructive to my 
character, before I should be relieved of my wicked solicit- 
ude, about my reputation, and the wicked pride which I 
take in it. His holy will be done. Knowing your poverty 
in this world's goods, and supposing that it may press pecu- 
liarly hard upon you now, I take the liberty of sending you 
the wiihin check.* Our beloved brother, Charles Stew- 
art, joins me in love to you, and your dear family. 
Yourfriendy 

GERRIT SMITH. 
T wish you dear brother, to take this letter, and the di- 
rectly opposite conduct which I have already laid before 
you — and instantly carry them in your mind and lay them 
side by side, before the judgment seat of Christ; with the 
authors of each inifull view of HIM, who spake the parable 
recorded in the latter part of the I8th of Matthew And 
can you doubt the result? As the'vvordsof Jesus shalljudge 
us in the last day, and not one jot nor tittle of them shall 
pass away I will only in this place quote two passages — 
and that all concerned, would make the application. — 



100 

^^ Blessed are the merciful for they shall ohtain mercj.^' — • 
Matt. 5 C. 7 V. ^' For he shall have judgment without 
mercy that hath shewed no mercy; for mercy rejoiceth 
against judgment." — James 2 C.il3. Dear brother — pvb- 
lie sentiment ^ the criterion of most professor's conduct tow- 
ards me, will never, never change, invalidate nor nullify 
these truths of God. No: that may change thousands and 
millions of times, but these will remain the same vNhen time 
shall be no more ! praise the Lord! This letter I fully 
believe will bear the test of that " great day for which all 
other days were made," and will I trust live to be admired 
by all who admire the spirit of Jesus, long after its author, 
and the fallen and afflicted man to whom it was addressed, 
shall mingle their joys together in the New Jerusalem, be- 
fore the throne of God! Beloved man of God! may the 
spirit of Jesus ever influence thee on earth, and glory crown 
thine earthly career! Nor would I forget in this place, 
that, "dear Charles Stewart, '* breathed the same senti- 
ments — and sent me the same consolation. It was like 
him: — the friend of sinners, the friend of the oppressed. In 
all of my wretchedness since my fall, but two or three min- 
isters have ever visited me with similar language in their 
mouths, to that contained in this letter. Indeed, but a very 
few have ever dared to put their heads under the roof where 
I dwelt. Of this number I delight to speak of Henry C. 
Wright. He come to see me, and looked at me, with an 
expression that did not convey the idea, that he thought 
there were no other sinners in this fallen world, besides 
myself His language was like that of Jesus— and he went 
into the pulpit on Sabbath, and dared to preach the whole 
truth in respect to the blessed doctrine of forgiveness. — 
His visit of mercy will long be remembered by me, 
with feelings of the deepest gratitude, and unfeigned 
thanks; as will that of a minister, by the name of Brown, 
from Pawcatuck, of this state. I mio^ht speak of a num- 
ber of other individuals who have visited me from abroad, 
and manifested a similar spirit, and conduct, but have not 
room. Those which I have already laid before you, may 



101 

serve for an illustration: my great object being to contrast 
truth with error^ and the spirit of the adorable Jesus, with 
the spirit of this world. I have never heard of but three 
presses, that have said a word to vindicate me from the 
unnumbered unholy assaults which were aimed for my des- 
truction. There may have been more, but I never have 
seen them. Joseph A. Whitmarsh has dared to call me 
brother: and an Editor in Boston, by the name of Com- 
^tock, an entire stranger to me^ has in a number of articles, 
taken a generous and manly stand, in respect to my case. 
I can only add to these a writer in the '^ Herald of Free- 
dom," of Concord New Hampshire. All of my other old 
friends of the press, have found it expedient in relation to 
my case to be silent. We can, through great opposition, 
reprove sin, and after all, get honor by it — but to take by 
the hand a penitent publican, exposes one to the risk of 
being accused of fellowshiping iniquity — a risk, which but 
few have moral courage enough, to run. Some of the 
most poj)ular religious {?) papers, joined an ungodly world, 
in sneering at me. I will here transcribe the article in the 
Herald of Freedom, in answer to one of them. 

Mr. Editor. — We are charged with showing an '^ un- 
christian spirit," The N. H. Observer and its patrons 
and readers assure us of it. I point the readers of that 
paper to an article in the last number of it headed, '* Pure 
Testimony,'' as a sample of their spirit, and ask them one 
and all if that spirit is what they want us to exhibit — ifthat 
is the ^' Chrisnan spirit," they so much talk about? I call 
on them and their editor, to read that article over once, 
solemnly and conscientiously, and then answer whether the 
spirit of it is what they mean by ''Christian spirit." If it 
is, I confess the abolitionists are in truth wanting in it, and 
1 trust '\'c\ Heaven, they may keep so. 

Elder Ray Potter, a free will Baptibt preacher, of Paw- 
tucket, R. I. a man of original and most powerful mind, of 
great and striking talent as a writer, of eminent piety and 
philanthropy, and of hitherto spotless life, — committed one 
of the crimes, the least of them, of which David was guilty, 



102 

in the Hiatter of Uriah. He confessed hia sin to God — to 
the church — the people around hitn and the world. He la- 
ments it in language of the keenest distress, contrition and 
penitence. The editor of the N. H. Observer, heads a no- 
tice of his fault, with the words, ** Pure Testimony." El- 
der Potter had published a periodical by that title. The 
first stone cast at the afflicted and penitent man, by theN. 
H. Observer, is the bitter and cruel taunt — *' Pure Testi' 
viony,^^ '' It is impossible for me," says the heart broken 
penitent ** to express my anguish. I only now say, that I 
humble myself before you as a church, and every individ- 
ual. I confess my sin. Do with me as seemeth good in 
your sight. Let God's will be done. I must be over- 
whelmed in disgrace. I deserve it. I complam not^ let 
what will come. God will he glorified in my degradation, 
la that I have comfort. Oh God, I submit to thy awful 
rebuke, to let hell rejoice over me Jor a season. I ask for- 
giveness of God — of you — of the people of this place — of 
all the world" It seems to me there is nothing on record, 
since the psalms of David, more indicative of profound, 
heart-broken, saving penitence than we have here. What 
more did David himself utter — what more could he utter, 
or leel. What more does our Father in Heaven ask of us, 
depraved, falbn creatures, by way of repentance and con- 
fession, than this. He tliat *' is of purer eyes tlian to behold 
iniquity — who cannot look on sin, buf with the greatest ab- 
horrence." He IS ever ready to pardon and abs( Ive, on 
penitence and confession. Not so, ^' rejoicing hell.^'— -* 
Not so the wicked and adulterous world, w ho hunt the fall- 
en man away from his home, (" he has fled," says the Ob- 
server,) and not so the editor of New Hampshire's leligious 
periodical; who sneers at him in his abaser.ent, and in his 
aiSiction and distress, and calls him a ^'thorough going ab- 
olitionist, and moral reformer, or anti-licentious .nan!" — 
He reminds him now that he ^^ has published a periodical, 
to which he gave the title o^ the Pure Tc.<tfjnoni/.'^ This 
truly, is *' Cliristian spirit." Slavery is a delicate sulgect; 
we liiust be cautious how we speak against it. Our south- 



103 

ern slave-holders are our ** bnthi ci\'' — we must be cautious 
in speakifjg of their uiiforiuriate situation. Bui our chris- 
tian brother — who is an abolitionist, and nnoral reform 
nian*'-— if l^e sin, and confess it before tie church and 
world, may be sneered at and taunted, by the organ of New 
Hampshire Christianity. That hell should rejoice over 
hhn, the poor man did expect. It is natural that hell should 
rejoice. But has it come to this, that professed christisns 
are to join in the rejoicing, and swell the exultation ? Are 
the patrons of the Observer ready to become the endorsers 
and encouragers of such rejoicing? 

Straus show the way of the wind. Editors show the 
temper of their patrons. Let the patrons of the Observer 
read the article, and approve or disapprove ir. it is in per- 
fect keeping, with the whole course of the paper and its pat- 
rons, towards anti slavery and the abolitionists. Ray Potter 
was an abolitionist. His fall therefore, is fair cause of rejoic- 
ing — and he a proper subject of cold-blooded insult and 
taunt. He is a moral reform man too, his misery, therefore 
is a legititnate subject of christian sport and sarcasm. — 
Shade of Mc Dovvall! — what would have been his dying 
emotions — a martyr to the cause of purity, amid false breth- 
ren and a bloody-minded world — had he foreseen that es- 
pousing his just and Christ like principles, would have 
made a man infamous, in the eyes of professing christians, 
and his humiliation for confessed sin, their jests and scorn! 

This sneer at the fall of Potter, may win the Observer 
subscribers from the infxdel world around him. It will 
gladden the tempers of pro-slavery professors, and the ma* 
lignant mob. It will relieve the wicked to witness the fall 
of the abolitionists. God grant that they may have few 
such occasions of relief Let anti-slavery men take heed 
to their walk, and watch and pray, humbling themselves in 
view of their own weakness and depravity, and the sins of 
their brethren, and see to it, that they give not the enemy, 
whether professsor or profane, occasion to blasplseme. 

AN ABOLITIONIST. 

I know not who was the author of this ccmmuiiica- 



i04 

tion. May he bo richly rewarded for his labors of love, at 
tl»e resurrection of thejust. I cannot forbear in this place, 
to mention the christian and merciful conduct of Mrs. So- 
p'lia Liitle of Newport, towards me and my family, in the 
midst of all our distress. Aithou^h the daughter of one of 
the high( st official characters in the state: yet, on my be- 
ing driven away from home by the mob, she immediately 
came with her family, and commenced boarding with my 
wife; — which she continued to do, for a number of months: 
and by her pious sympathy, counsel and prayers, has af- 
forded us unspeakable comfort. I know she shrinks from 
eulogy more than from persecution; yet, I cannot withhold 
this testimony to her unfeigned charity, and Christ -like hu- 
mility. 1 shall give you a farther account of the christian 
kindness of some of God's dear people to me in my next. 
In tfie mean time join me in ascriptions of praise to God, 
that the benevolent and merciful spirit of Jesus, is yet to 
be found in the world. 

Your ^Affectionate BrotJie?\ 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER Xin. 
Providence, (la Prison,) Oct. 2'2d. 18:57. 
Mi/ dear Brother : — 

How true it is that the most holy and benev- 
olent of men, have in all ages, been contemned and set at 
nougiit by the self-righteous, the proud and the great. — 
Yes, the spotless son of God himself, met with no better 
fate. In life he was considered by the Pharisees, disreput- 
able and mean, and ended his life between two thieves! — 
The holy Apostles were made as the. Jilth of the world, and 
the offscouring of all flesh, (a remarkable expression,) and 
the disciples of Je^us since, who have been faithful to their 
Masler, have not retained a better ciiaracter, with the men 
of tha world. Tobesure there have been professors of re- 
ligion, in all age<, who have been accounted honorable: — 
the Scribes and Pharisees and chief Priests were: but then 



105 

they slew the Lord of life and ^lory; and honorable pro- 
Tessors now, treat the devoted children of God, not much 
better. For me to speak rVi terms of commendation, of 
those saints of God in Pawtuckef, who since my fHll have 
faced the frowns of earth and hell, in mainlaining the doc- 
trine of Christ in their conduct towards me, would, no 
doubt, be met with almost as great a sneer, as a commen- 
dation of Christ and the Apostles would have met with, 
from the tall professors- the Scribes and Pharisees of riiat 
Hge. But Jesus has declared, that they who are ashamed 
of him and his xoords, of them will he be ashamed before 
his FATHER, and the holy Angels. Let those u ho have 
despised them and are ashamed of them, for keeping the 
words of Jesus, remember that worldly honor here, uill be 
poor compensation for the holy contempt of Jesus, in the 
awful day of retribution. I feelas if 1 should be rtcreant to 
my duty, if I did not in this narrative, commend their course, 
i have already informed you of the stand which they first 
took, in opposition to the doctrine and conduct of Archip- 
pus. You can have no conception of what they had to en- 
dure I have never known any thing in the present aj^e, 
that has equalled it. The great body of professors, were 
down upon them, with their whole influence. This was nil 
that open revilers wanted. They could hardly be seen in 
the streets, without being- loaded with the most opprobrious 
epithets. Their friends and relatives forsook them. i hey 
were counted as moralnuisances—the dregs of societv— 
and were made a bye-word and reproach anions all "the 
people Business patronage was withdrawn frorn them — 
Iheir houses were mobbed and they were threatened with 
imprisonment in the bridewell, for praying to God' And 
what was all this for ? VV hy, for shewing mercy accordincr 
to the example of Jesus, and the commands of 'God. Fo? 
doing this, they were constantly accused of upholding me 
inrriysin! 'I heir enemies constantly cast this in their 
teeth. In vain did they declare that they condemned my 
SMI, and meant to obey the commands ofV^.d, in shewing 
mercy to an imploring sinner, ^o arguments could be 



106 

heard from them, with candor and impartiality. The fe- 
males were branded as befriending me from the vilest of 
motives, and those who opened their doors, to give me and 
m^ family a shelter from suffering, were accused of keeping 
a house of ill fame! The females were sometimes followed 
in the streets for half a mile, by a most vulgar gang, pour- 
irjg out upon them a volley of the most obscene epithets. 
Btit, anii(J>t the whole of it, they remained firm, trusting in 
God. I was in a situation to observe the daily conduct of 
many of them; and those too, who were considered the 
tnn-iil of the set. Never did I witness more apparent devo- 
tion to God. Their chief and great concern seemed con- 
stnnily to be, What will God have us to do? Hours upon 
hours, have I known them to spend m most earnest prayer 
and 8U[)plicalion, to know his will and to obtain strength to 
do their duty. O that I could do them good! A reflection 
of what they have suffered for shewing me mercy, over- 
whelms me. But they shall have their reward. The eye 
of liliM, who sees in secret has been upon them, and he 
has marked their labors of love. A time is fast approach- 
ing, \shen the true characters of all men will appear — and 
tlien do I believe in God, these despised ones, will shine 
like the brightness of the firmamrnt, and like the stars for- 
ever and ever. O glorious thought that there is such a day 
rolling on How little have their persecutors reflected that 
ihey have been trampling the image of Jesus under their 
feel, in the slander and abuse which they have poured up- 
on these dear saiuts of God. I cannot forl)ear in this 
place to p:\y a tribute of gratitude to my dear afflicted wife. 
Her conduct towards me has been beyond all praise. l[trust 
she has granted me a full and free forgiveness; nor has a 
taunting word ever fallen from her lips, to deepen roy dis- 
tress. The conduct of all my family has been merciful 
and kind towards me: and so vyith my relatives in general. 
1 cannot be restrained in this place of speaking of the con- 
duct of the one towards me, who fell with me in transgres- 
sion. I hesitate not to say that it has been that which true 
religion dictates. 1 believe her io possess that religion — I 



107 

know that she has sinned: but 1 believe God has shewn 
her mercy, and owns her for his child. O that I could 
make her restitution for the injury I have done her — and 
to do something of this kind, shall be one great concern of 
my future life. Dear brother: when I think of the forgiv- 
ing mercy shown me by many of God's dear children in 
the days of my wretchedness and wo, my heart is ready to 
burst with melting gratitude. It humbles me in the dust. 
You can hardly conceive what longings of soul I have; to 
make them some returns for their unmingled kindness to 
me in my distress. But I cannot enumerate all of these 
acts of mercy, or bring the actors into view My limits 
will not permit me. I have shewn you enough for a con- 
trast. If you do not clearly perceive who has acted the 
most like Jesus, they w^ho have with scorn turned away 
from me in my distress and disgrace, or those to whom I 
have alluded in my last communications, I am greatly mis- 
taken in respect to your moral perception. I am now con- 
fined in a solitary prison. God is with me here. Never 
have I enjoyed myself much better. Although 1 have sin- 
ned, yet it is not for my sin that 1 am here. Of this I am 
well satisfied. This is only a pretence. The land abounds 
with adulterers, and yet my offence is the only one that was 
ever indicted;* and yet I believe I am the only one, who 
has ever made a public confession. I said, bef(^re, my sin 
affords them a pretence for all manner of persecution. But 
I have done. I shall dwell no longer in narrating my tri- 
als nor the condnct of those who are the means of them; 
any further than I am obliged to do, in the inferences which 
1 intend to make, in some further communications which I 
shall make you, if the Lord permit, soon — and I beg you 
to remember, that to elicit truth in respect to the present 
state of the professed people of God, is the great object 
which 1 have in view through the whole. Some who hare 
greatly afflicted me, have, 1 trust, been converted to God — 

* There has been a black man indicted, and perhaps others, 
but 1 never have heard of any others. 



108 



and it is my my most fervent prayer, that they may see 
their errors, and turn from ihem, thai peace and joy divine, 
may fill their hearts, and that 1 may rest with them finally 
in heaven! 

I remain most afectionately Yours, 

KAY POTTER. 



LETTER XIV. 

Providence, (in Prison,) Oct. 23d, 1837. 

My dear Brother : — 

I now proceed to make some reflections on 
my fall, and the transactions which has grown out of it. — 
In respect to the effect which it has had on my own soul, 
1 have given you some hinls already; and shall say some- 
thing farther before I terminate these communications. I 
\\\\Wt)mmcnce these refleclions by calling your attention to 
the afiecting evidence v\hich we here have of the falli- 
ijii.iTV OF MAN. This, is a lesson which mankind are slow 
to learn: — indeed, it is the very loi^t, which they ever will 
learn thoroughly. U \\\ey parti ally learn it they seem 
strangely inclined, soon to forget it. Even the people of 
God, after having been humbled in view of their moral de- 
pravity and entire insufficiency, even to think a good 
lliought, independently of the efficient agency of the Holy 
Spirit, will, after all, keep trying to believe that it is not 
altogether so. How few there are, in this fallen world, 
that do really see thinfrs as they are in this respect, and 
Liok upon man to be BUT man. But few my dear broth- 
er. I tell you again, this is the last lesson that we ever 
thoroughly learn. Thousands grow grey in studying it, 
and die in total ignorance of it alter all. I know that mul- 
titudes profess to be very orthodox on this subject. They 
write volumes on it. They preach upon it. 1'hey talk of 
it in their conference meetings, and make a great ado about 
it, in their conversations one with another: — in telling how 
vile they see themselves to be, &tc. But after all, we have 



109 

reason to believe, that but few realize hard!}' any thing 
which they say. Now, it is certain, that if a person see 
the truth in respect to this subject, he will cease to make 
that distinction between sinners, which is almost universally 
made — I mean between those who have committed such 
overt acts of sin, as dis^xrace them in the view o{ man^ and 
those whose external conduct has been, what the world 
terms fair. The truth is, the hearts of all men, in what 
we term a state of nature, are cs5e/z^ia//y alike; yet, you 
know, there is a great difference in xe^^e^ciioihe breakings 
out q/~ depravity. Some break out in various overt acts, 
disgraceful to them while others do not; and yet have no 
more holiness in the sight of God, than those who have de- 
graded themselves. Yet, this, 1 say, is hardly believed at 
all. Multitudes profess to believe it, but they do not. — 
They malfe sin and righteousness, almost wholly to consist 
in external actions:— forgetting that the whole in the sight 
of God, depends on the state of the heart. From hence, 
if a man pursue a course of conduct through life, free from 
those ex/erw«/ aberations, which are, by men^ considered 
disgraceful, he is considered in a different light, from what 
as a mere man, he ought to be considered, 'i'here is a kind 
o^ infallibility attached to him. This is evident from the 
fact, that when one who has gained such a character does 
fall into some external act, that is by man considered a sin, 
the general cry is by many, *' It can't be that he has done 
thus and so." And why this great wonder.'^ The reason 
is plain. They do not believe that man is but man. Now 
the fact is, that some men are so constituted^ that a course 
oi external conduct, to meet the views o^ man in respect to 
righteousness, is far easier than it is for others: — that is, 
their natural make^ to use as plain an expression as I can, 
prompts them to it. I believe this to be true, in respect 
to myself I shall throw away " voluntary humility''^ — and 
all affectation^ in speaking on this subject. For, as I do 
not/ec/ like 6o(25/m^ of it, so also, I know it would be 
of wo use to me to do so, now, if I were ever so much dis- 
posed: — and I therefore speak of myself jm5^ as I think; in 
10 



110 

f»r(]er to shew, ilial man, after all he may think of hiir.self, 
i.s but man. Tiie Phrenologist's account ofmy natural dis- 
position, wns striking;!}' correct;* and n;)iie have bf'en de- 
ceived in considering me to possess those traits of character 
which I af)peared to possess, and which 1 i»ad the reputation 
of |)osi5es.sing. Added to this, I was a christian. I shall 
not pretend to doubt of this in order to answer the views 
and notions ofnjany: i e. that it is essential to the character 
of a christian, for him to doubt that he is on?. I speak of 
that, of which I have been fully assured. But then what 
of all ihat.^ There is not a man in the world nor ever was, 
but what mm/ be so assailed with temptation as to be over- 
come. UNLESS PRESERVED BY THE EFFIC- 
lEiXT AGENCY OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD. that 
men would learn this lesson and fully believe it. But they 
will not. Garrison, a man greatly beloved by me, thus ex- 
presses himself in lanienting my fall — "him whom we had 
hitherto regarded as among the most worthy followers of 
Christ; whose zeal and boldness for the truth, and in every 
good w ork, have made him conspicuous all over the country, 
and endeared him to the hearts of thousands of the advo- 
cates of righteousness; and who seemed to be storm proof 
against every temptation, and under every triaL^^ Ah my 
brother — he/e is the great error. This, having man, any 
n)an, appear to us " storm proof against temptation,^' — 
Wtio may be looked upon as "storm proof against tempta- 
tion," if Adam might not have been in his primeval state? 
a perfect man most certainly — ^just from the hand of his 

* I wish to be understood, as not giving any opinion in re- 
spect to the correctness or incorrectness of the science of Phre- 
nology. All I can say is, I have a consciousness, that Mr. 
Fowler was generally correct in his description of mv nat- 
ural disposition. TIjis I do not do to exalt myself; fori have 
again and again contended that there is not one particle of 
HOLINESS in the whole of it :— but I do it for the purpose of 
shewing the rALLiBiLTTY of unsanctified human nature ; 
and if we are not kept by the power of God temptations maj 
btt so adapted as tu overcome a«t man. 



Ill 

creator, and yet he fell on the presentation of th3 fir^t 
temj)tati()n! With this before us, why should we ever look 
upon any man as ** storm proof against every temptation?'' 
Js it likely that any of Adam's posterity — if God sees fit 
nr.t to restrain tliem, will be more likely to u ithstand tempt- 
ation than he? Yet with this lesson before us, afid its ofteri 
similar repititioa ever since, v\e will still look upon man, 
as I before said, to be something more than man. ]Men do 
not see the invisible hand, that holds them. It will be 
said, they should watch and pray against temptation. Most 
certainly they ought; but then man is such a creature that 
he will not watch and prajj if left to himself: and that, God 
doc^s sometimes leave men, — yes, his own children to them- 
selves; (I use a common phrase for the sake of being un- 
derstood,) I say that he does sometimes thus leave even his 
own children to themselves, stubborn facts, place beyond 
all controversy as in the case of Peter and others. Ifthey 
sin and fall, their sin — the guilt and shame of it, is all their 
own: — but ifthey stand, it is the invisible hand of God 
alone that keeps tliem. In illustration of this subject, I will 
state a strong case. If it were not for the preserving hand 
andpOAcroi' God, William Lloyd Garrrison might bc3 
tempted and induced to become a slave-holder! that 
njy former friends and especially those who professed to 
admire m,y zeal and steadfastness in the cause of truth and 
righteousrsess, would make a right improvement of my fall: 
and be led to a consideration of their o?/^?* fallibility. Ifthey 
were to make this use of it, they would no longer he asham- 
ed to call me brother, notwithstanding my dreadful fall. — 
Look at Gerrit Smith and Charles Stewart. '' Indeed," 
(he savs,) " 1 can truly say, that I love you better than I. 
loved you before your fall. Dear Ciiarles Stewart who is 
w'ith use says that he too loves you more than he used to 
do." What stratjge language is this, to almost all the 
world ? and yet, i! you wish to find the verij same in import, 
read the account oi'tiie reception of the returning |)rodi^ji!: 
and if you wish also to see a specimen of the spirit that 
generally prevails towards me, lo(;k at the elder brother, 



112 

and hear what he says. 1 suppose it would be no more 
astonishing to many for William L Garrison to become a 
slave holder than it was to hear of my fall. Well, let them 
Jearn wisdom by this awful lesson, and not only talk about 
their moral weakness, while they are under the influence 
of a self-righteous spirit, but let ihem fftcl, — be conscious 
and realize what they are. *' Let hini that thinkcth he 
standeth take heed lest he fall — " and surely, the fairest 
"way that they can be in to fall, is to feel in the least exalt- 
ed over those who have fallen; and refuse them forgiveness 
and fellowship when they cry for mercy! In my dreadful 
fall, God has given a most solemn lesson on the moral de- 
pravity and weakness of man; yet how few appear to be 
making the use of it which they should.^ Instead of being 
humbled, multitudes make an occasion of it, of exalting 
themselves, and increasing their Pharisaical self-righteous- 
iiess. They must sooner or later come down. If they do 
not humble themselves, God will bring them down — and it 
may be into the depths of hell to rise no more! One thing 
my dear brother, we may sit down as an unalterable truih; 
a self-righteous^ self- depending spirit, icill never go into 
heaven. No, not the least particle of it. What would be 
its appearance m heaven.^ 31ore loathsome than a serpent 
in your parlor: infinitely more so. What would it do in 
heaven if it could go there .^ It would clip the crown of the 
great Redeemer, and take a'vay the glory of the gospel: 
from hence, no marvel that Jesus has said, that Publicans 
and Harlots shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, before 
the self-righteous Pharisees. Praised be the glorious sa- 
vior of sinners, that I trust this spirit, that formerly pre- 
vailed in my heart to such a great extent, has been greatly 
subdued by my fall. While writing here in this loathsome 
piison, my mind goes back to the seasons — yes, the many 
seasons of crying to God, that he would make me more 
like Jesus Christ, let it cost me what it would in this world. 
Dear brother, I feel as if it was done! Yes, I feel assured 
that it is done. But 0, how stranorely has it been brought 
about! I have sometimes thouo;ht, that a more dreadful 



113 

battle was never fought between native conscientiousness 
and the fear of doing wrong on the one hand, and passion 
on the other, than in my case. If 1 vvere to state all the 
circumstances connected vvith it, somethings would be per- 
fectly astonishing to all who gave credit to them: hut in 
general, no doubt would be disbelieved. But my fall was 
my rise — my destruction my salvation! Strange talk to 
most people, but really true. Men will talk of reason in 
such a case: — but leave that, my dear brother, for those 
who have no right reason. Reason against appetite — un- 
assisted by efficient grace! We might just as well talk of 
a feather's floating against a hurricane! Is it not strange, 
that after so Uiany demonstrations to the contrary, that any 
person will say a word about reason's governing appe'ite.'^ 
Behold thousands and thousands of the most powerful in- 
tellects that God ever made in this world, led captive by 
appetite for ardent spuits. I once heard a most affecting 
story in illustration of this. A man had become intemper- 
ate. He dreamed one nighty that an angel came to him, 
and presented to hmi two cups — one full of rum, and the 
other full of blood, and told him that if he drank the blood 
he should have everlasting life; but, if he drank the rum, 
he should be forever miserable: and yet, in full view of 
this, he seized the cup of rum, and drank it down. The 
dream had a great eflect upon him. He left off drinking 
for some time. One day, however, he rose deliberately 
from his bench, (be ing a shoe-maker,) went and bought a 
quart of rum, and drank himself drunk; and remained a 
drunkard! Lord what is man! Here w^e have a specimen 
of reason's governing appetite. But it will be said, if they 
were to begin timely to resist, they would not fall. Ah my 
brother, this if is a very important word. This may be true. 
But it is just as true that there is a way for every tern{)ta- 
tion to get hnld and prevail, unless God preserves us. Look 
at David. There is a remarkable expression, concerning 
David; which is not used in respect to any other saint, 
spoken of in the bible. He is called a man after Gcd's 
own heart: — and yet, after all of big visions of God and 



114 

glory — his deop acquaintance with the law of God, that 
not only condemned external acts of sin, but wicked 
thoughts; at the age of about sixty as is supposed, he fell 
into the sins of adultery and murder! Tell this to some, 
and they will begin to talk of that's being a dark age! Do 
they mean by this, that David was in the dark, in respect 
to the law of God that said, thou shalt not commit adultery, 
thou shalt not kill? 1 *say do they mean this? when per- 
haps no man that ever lived before or since, had clearer 
views of the law of God than he? Why then do they take 
his Psalms for texts to preach from, in this age of light! — 
But you know this is consummate foily. In David's fall 
we see what man is, and O that the childrfn of men, after 
so many demonstrations as we find strewed all through the 
Bible, and as ue find all around us now, would leave off 
fteling as Peter did, (if they do not say as he did,) " though 
all men forsake thee, yet will not 1." Be that as it may, 
none will ever enter heaven, but those who learn and {eel 
their oicn weakness, and are prepared to ascribe all their 
salvation to the Lamb of God. Gud grant that my dread- 
ful fall may be rightly improved by others^ in sinking them 
into the dust in view of their own state, and dependence 
upon God! 

Your ^Affectionate Brother. 

RAY POTTER. 



LETTER XV. 

Providence, (In Prison,) Oct. •24th. ISM. 
JJi/ dear Brother : — 

My dreadful fall has put me in a place of 
observation^ which I never was in before; and, indeed in 
^^hich 1 could //r>/ have been, in any other situation. While 
lyiuii here, with broken bones, bleeding and mangled, and 
trodden under the feet of men, truihs ot vast importance 
have been presented to my mind, in respect to the state of 
the world, and especially m respect to \\\e professed christian 
world, — some of which I had hardly ever glanced at before, 



I 



II: 



and othei's, although I had thought of them, yet I]ithert<^ 
had comparatively seen them but dimly. f he next thing 
which 1 shall advert to, in the coUrse of these reflections, 
is, the rule by which most of the present generation— even 
ministers and professors, judge of sin. That rule is PUB- 
LIC SENTIMENT, instead of the law of God! Never 
did I have so clear a view of this, as I have had since my 
fall. I know if you were to ask the generality of them, by 
what rule they try actions, they would unhesitatingly an- 
swer, the law of God. This would be their " say so" — this 
is their theory: but what is their practice? Why they 
practically subslitue public opinion for the law^ of God. — 
Dear brother, as awful as this is — as directly as it aims at 
the throne of the Most High — as truly as it tramples under 
foot the divine law, it is almost universal with professor and 
profane through this land. The question is not, what does 
God in his word say — but what do the people think and 
say; or, in other words, which way is the current of public 
sentiment sitting: — and when it is found which vvay that 
runs, ihey launch ship, and down stream they go, with 
surprising velocity! Now if I have never toM the truth 
before, I tell it now. I cannot express to you how clearly, 
how indubitably this has been demonstrated in respect to 
my case I will give a specimen for an illustration. When 
I first wen4 before the church of which I bad been pastor, 
made my confession, and on my knees iiDplored their for- 
giveness, they voted to forgive me. But, a day or two 
after, a certain minister, signified to one of the brethren, 
his entire disapprobation of their course, and that if the 
church held me in fellowship, the church over which he 
presided, would have no fellowship for iheyv. Now mark; 
this same minister, had to my certain knowledge, not a \o\\g 
time before this, been labored with — been argued with for a 
long time, on the impropriety of the churches of his denomi- 
nation at the norths holdmg fellowship with the churches of 
the same denomination at the south^ who are baptized with 
slavery; that unhesitatingly nullifies the marriage covenant, 
tramples under foot the seventh commandment, and ua- 



116 

blushingly tolerates adultery and licentiousness in its worst 
forms — find lie opposed the idea of breaking ff.Uowsliip with 
them. Nor has he ever in his denominational capacity done 
it; and to-day it* there were to be a national convention of 
the whule deiioniination from the Xorth and S<-»uth, in a 
slave-holdinij state, as there was not a long time since, in 
Richmond Virginia, he woold, no doubt, if called upon, 
attend; sit in counsel with them in full fellowship. Now 
no doubt his argument would be for not felloushiping the 
church that fellowshiped me, that I was impenitent &c. — 
Well, for nrgument's sake, grant this to be true — and that 
1 am still an adulterer: — and u hat then? Is it not passing 
strange, that a man should be so panic struck at the thoughts 
ot' feliowsiiipincr a church that retains one adulterer in it, 
when he holds on upon churches with all his might, who 
hold to legalizing this sin? and retain it in thousands of in- 
stances unrepented of, unconfessed and unforsaken? How 
do you reconcile this conduct, if this man meant to make 
the law of God his rule of conduct? Is not here as com- 
plete a dilemma as we found Mr. Archippus in, not a 
long time since ? Surely ; and by one horn or the 
other he must hang. What does such a course of conduct 
say? Why that adultery in a black man is not sinful, 
while it IS so in a white man. And why so? Does the 
law of God say so? No! hxxi public sentiment does! Why 
then, public sentiment is substituted as the rule of conduct 
for ministers and churches instead of the wojd of God. I 
give this as a specimen but you may depend upon it, the 
infection is almost uaiversal. Since my fall, notwithstand- 
ing 1 prostrated myself in my confession before all jfltsh, 
and begged for mercy, yet ministers and professors in jzen- 
eral, manifested as much dread ot coming near me, much 
more of calling me brother, as most people would, of com- 
ing near a cholera patient — yet these same persons, would 
hold in their embrace and treat with all possible' christian 
courtsey, slave-h<"lders. It was ncit long before my fall, 
that a certain D. D, came from Charlestown, preached in 
one of the most popular meeting-houses in liiis city, who 



tit 

but a short time before he left home, sold a human being 
for about one thousand dollars! and so far from beinf]^ 
ashamed of it — repenting ot it, and forsaking it, was readj 
to proclaim the abominable deed upon the house top, and 
stand up in its justification — and this man could have the 
courtesy of the christian community from thejC()llege down- 
wards, wliile 1 am spurned from their feet with the utmost 
disgust. My dear brother — if I were to tell these things 
aloud, what conclusive evidence it would be, in the minds 
of all these persons, of my impenitence! I only uttered a 
few sentences of truth, similar to this, in my address to the 
people of Pavvtucket, and they wanted no more to prove 
that I had not repented of my sin. But it is the everhist- 
ino- truth^ that public sentiment is generally substituted as 
the rule to judge of sin, instead of the law of God. From 
the depths of my degradation, I proclaim it. O what an 
insult to the ever blessed God! It is virtually wresting tl^e 
government out of his hands, and putting it into the har>ds 
of a corrupt sinful world. But glory to his name, he rni^7i.<: 
and will reisn to the final utter contusion of those who thus 
presumptuously and blasphemously interfere with his divine 
prerrogative. And here I must go Uraight; for if I seek 
to please men, 1 cease to be the servant of Christ — and if 
I am a respecter of persons, I shall sin against God. It is 
a truth, that cannot be denied, that in respect to my case 
the great contemners of the doctrine of seliish expediency 
in respect to another subject, and of substituting public 
sentiment, as the test of moral actions, instead of the lavv 
of God, have themselves generally fallen into a dilemma 
It is a command as clearly revealed in the bible, to forgive 
and fellowship a brother, that turns and says he repents as 
any other whatever. It is as charlit revealed, most cer- 
tainly, as it is that we are bound to let the oppressed go free. 
It is as clearly revealed, as is that great and fundamental 
law of God, on which the Anti-Slavery advocates have built 
their doctrine; and which they have urged with such irre- 
sistii)le powe'", in overthrowing all the' arguniPiits which 
their opponents could bring — viz: as ye would tiiut others 



s^jr)ii](l d'^ unto yon, even so slijill ye do iintothrm. Well, 
uheii ihe pr.) >laN(My iiu n^ come Inrwari] v\ilh their expe- 
diencv sH^imn-'jits, liow soon do lliey full before the rei^ist- 
ies.i po.ver oi' truth iirwcd hy a!>oJilionists. I'hcy r- inn them 
n[) to the testiiii'triv or"G( d in his \v<»rd; and j/ive rut the 
least coMiitenaoce to tlieir aiizunjonts fVoni scdiish expediei;- 
cy. And -ihos Sciiih tiie Lord," liiey ctmleud is tiie great 
ride of action: — and to this they say we must bow and sub- 
mit in all of our condMct. When the pro-slavery man at- 
tempts to fly away, and talk about loss and gain, in eman- 
cipating slaves, how soon the abolitionist overthrows him, 
by appealinir to the svord of God, and from theme reading 
to hirn his duty. When the negro despiser, filled with 
prejudice against color, undertakes to vindicate his conduct 
in deiTtadincr a man, because he is of a diiTrent complex- 
ion. how soon does the abolitionist bring liini down from 
his pinnacle of pride and vain glory, by quoting to 
to him, ** Tliat God hath made of one blood all nation^ of 
men," and tiiat hp: is no respecter of persons. And how 
glorious this is! Nothing has been able to stand l)e{oie 
them. They have swept the field in this great conflict on 
the subject of slavery; and the public sentiment nien, and 
the pxpediency mesi, have been made to quail before them, 
and hide their heads for shame. But suppose a pro-slavery 
man should hap})en to ask them this questi( n: "Why do 
you stand ah)of from your old brother and fi^nd, and re- 
fuse him the hand of fellowshi()? Answer. He has great- 
ly sinned and fallen into disorace. But has he not also 
publicly confes'^ed liis sin — turned to you and said he re- 
pented ? and does not God m his word comn;ai:d you 
most clearly to forgive him and fellowship him. "i hough 
hi.s sins were as cnmsnn, are you not bound to do it.'^ Are 
you not taught this in the j)arable of the prodigal son, as 
weil as by tli<' piani corrnnands of God, which none cari 
misunderMatid. If he has been ^rer .so wicktd^ yet does 
not Gori declare th:;t in tlie day he turns from his wicked- 
ness, UF_^ freely I'orgtves him, and that his sins shall not 
any more be nu uiiontd io \m\\t ^iow do you not tell us 



119 

to go by the word ol God in respect to the subject ofslave- 
ry, and if we say a word about expediency, \ou give us vo 
quarters, but tell us j)lain]y that ue are fighting agaiisst 
God? and are you not walking by the same riilt that ycu 
SD unqualifiedly conden^in in us? Be honest and own the 
truth. You now stand aloof from him^ on the sanfie princi- 
ple that 1 do not associate, on equal terms with a black 
man — because you are ashamed! And for the same reason 
that I am opposed to the abolition of slavery: because you 
think you should lose something by it! Pub'Ac sentiment, 
is against the man; crushing him: — and yow dare not face 
that public sentiment, and reach forth tiie helping hand to 
help him, for fear o^ disgrace. Now *' thou art inexcusable 
O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou 
jadgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that 
judgest, DOEST THE .^AME I^HINGS." My dear 
brother, how could multitudes of prominent abolitionists 
meet this argument of this pro slavery man? I am obliged 
to say they could not — and if they would be candid, they 
would ingenuously confess it. Where are the many, very 
many that used to visit me — were as hospitably received 
as our hearts and home could make them — with whom I 
labored most sincerely, and to whose help 1 flew with all 
my might, when they were overwhelmed in disgrace and 
suffering? Where have they been since I have laid bleed- 
i ing, down-trodden, mobbed, and thrown into prison ? I say 
where are they, and echo answers, where? A few have 
manifested a similar spirit with (hat of Gerrit smith. My 
soul is humbled in view of their merciful conduct towards 
me.* But the most keep away! But Jesus did not keep 
away, glory be to his dear name — nor will he keep away 
from the degraded black man, though the proud white itifni 
keeps away forever! It seems to me, that 1 hear God saying 



* George W. Benson, Wyllys Ames, William Chacc, Wil- 
liam Adams, Abner Belcher, Henry C. Wright, Thomas Trues- 
dell, Henry B. Stanton; Lewis Tappan, Oliver Johnson, 
James G. Birney, Charles Simmons and some others. 



i-:20 



in this dispensation, to these great champions of truth, in re' 
spect to slavery; 'Come, I wili try you on another ground. and 
see if you v\ill carry your doctrine clear out. I will leav© 
one of your number to fall into deep disgrace, aed 1 will 
see whether you will stick to my word, in your conduct 
towards him then.' They were tried: and they turned 
away from the word of God, and became expediency men! 
This was too much — to follow Jesus here was more than they 
could endure. Glorious JesusI thou didst //ei'e/ flinch: but 
in all thy conduct in respect to all subjects, thou didst 
trample under foot tiiat heinous doctrine of seliish expe- 
diency; although, by so doing, thou didst lose thy charac- 
ter among rhe Pharisees, and finally lost thy life! mj 
dear brotiier, how few there are who will follow Jesus in all 
thingsl But 1 forbear. 

1 remain most aWectionately Yours, 

KAY POTTER. 



1837. 



LETTER XYI. 

Providence, (in Prison J Oct. •24th 
My dear Brother : — 

The most affecting exhibitiion, which hasi 
been presented to my own mind, in connexion with my 
dreadful fall, is, the views which generally prevail amcn^i 
the professed people of God, in respect to the gospel o' 
Christ, I mean, as this has been demonstrated in their 
practice, ^^'hat is the gospel } Is it not good news to 
sinners.' Aiidwhy.^ Because it saves them. Because, 
in the gospel, provision is made tor the forgiveness of their 
sins; through the atoning blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Kosv, observe the following statement: — The greatest and 
vilest of sinners — though their sins are as crimson and 
scarlet — that come to God through Christ, are fully, freely, 
and everlastingly forgiven of all their sins; and stand as 
cornpletely justified before God as if they never had sinned; 
as completely justified, and free from condemnation as the 
holy Angels, wiio have never sinned against God. This, 



121 

if r may so speak, is the very corner stone of the whole 
gospel system. The very doctrine that was prefigured by 
the sacrifices under the law dispensation — the glorious 
doctrine preached by our blessed Lord, in the days of his 
flesh — constantly insisted upon by the apostles after his 
crucifiction, and was the fundamental doctrine, on w^hich 
Luther stood when he levelled the artillery of God's truth 
at the Romish doctrine of penance and purgatory. Now 
my dear brother, you can but see, that in the conduct of 
most ministers and professors in respect to my case, this 
great and glorious doctrine of full, complete and everlast- 
ing forgiveness, has been virtually thrown away; and the 
popish doctrine of doing penance substituted in its stead — 
ikey could not endure the gospel doctrine of forgiveness. It 
is the last thing which the human heart will consent to, to 
submit to be saved in the way the gospel proposes — for, 
opposition to the gospel is always exactly co?nmensurate 
with our self-righteousness. They run exactly parallel; and 
I have already considered how self-righteousness clings to 
the human heart. From hence we are ashamed of the 
gospel of Christ — the i^eal gospel. And that too, when they 
all the while profess to believe in it, preach in it, and hope 
to be saved by it. This was most clearly demonstrated in 
my case. Covered as I was with deep disgrace — although 
they could not deny but what the great atonement was 
sufficient for the full forgiveness of my sins — nor, could they 
deny but what God had a right to forgive me — nor, that he 
had not forgiven me — nor, that if he was pleased to take 
me out of the world, I should not go to heaven — yet, after 
all, they were ashamed to fellowship me. This, my brother 
was the whole of it — they were ashamed — and consequently 
ashamed of the real gospel. You will remember that the 
first stand taken, was not, that I was not a christian, nor 
that I was impenitent: — but though I were a christian, and 
though I were penitent, and though God had forgiven me, 
yet for the good of the cause — to save the church and to 
save mc, it was neccessary for me to be cast out — or ex- 
cluded from the fellowship of the people of God: — and this 
11 



122 

stand J believe was almosi universally taken. And u hy 
was it necessary for me to be cast out of the fellowship of 
God's people? I have already told you: — they uere 
c:>hamed to meet the sneers of tiie world in retaining me. 
But the gospel was sufficient to save me — consequently 
tliey were ashamed to go heart and hand with the gospel: 
practically renounced it, and laid hold of the selfish duc- 
trine o^ doing penance. The minister who now preaches 
where I formerly did, was asked what he thought about 
receiving me into fellowship, but a few days since; and he, 
unhesitatingly answered that he was established in the 
opinion, that in such cases, the person ought not to be re- 
ceived into fellowship under from four to eight years! My 
dear brother — in all soberness I consider this atejil 
heresy — it is in effect, denying the Lord who has bought us. 
Now what argument can be used to support this awful doc- 
trine? Will it be said that so much time is required in or- 
der to get evidence of his penitence? 1 answer that the 
whole bible is against such a position: and not one single 
passage of scripture ever has been or ever can be quoted 
to support it. Will it be said that it would be dishonorable 
to the cause of religion sooner to receive him? I answer 
that is nothing less than indirectly impeaching the holy 
God with dishonoring himself in saving the chief of sinners, 
in the way which he is pleased to save them — which is the 
very quintessence of Phariseeism, as urged by them ai^ainst 
the doctrine and conduct of our Lord Jesus in the days of 
his flesh. Let us state a case. Take the thief on the 
cross. The very same arguments which are used against 
receiving me into fellowship, might be urged against his 
having been received into heaven. There he was in th« 
deepest disgrace: — even dying an ignomious death: — and 
the argument which is used in respect to my case when 
applied to him would run thus: — If Jesus receives that man 
into heaven, the world will say that he cloaks iniquity — 
countenances sin. Far he has been a noted sinner — is 
most deeply disgraced^ and besides all that, only think; he 
is dying in the most igno.Tiinious manner for his crimes. — 



123 

If Jesus grants him fellowship, the people will all say, that 
he fellowships iniquity — and the world will have no rever- 
ence for his character. Tliis, is the argunnent exactly — it 
is as good in the one case as the other: — and at best, 
it strikes at the very vitals of the gospel; and introduces 
in its stead the doctrine of doing penance for salvation. — 
And yet tiiese people are alarming the nation for fear the 
Catholics will overrun the country! My brother, some of 
their essential doctrines^ against which Luther fought so 
nobly, have already overrun the country, under the sanc- 
tion too of their professed opponents; the Protestants! O 
how little did I realize thai such a state of things prevailed 
before tx\y fall: — but when I come to be looked upon as a 
sinner^ then did I find that *' Ichabod'^'^ was engraven upon 
the temple walls of the churches of this region — the glory 
of the /?//re ^o.spe/ having departed: — and that the Phari- 
sees guarded the avenues, with drawn swords to thrust 
through and through every penitent publican who dared 
a5)proach; unless he would first retire and do penance 
from four to eight years! Was Jesus afraid of being ac- 
cused of fellovvshiping iniquity in receiv/ng to the arms of 
his fellowsSiip, those who were considered by the self-right- 
eous Pharisees the greatest of sinners.^ He was thus ac- 
cused: — but did it move him? No! blessed be his dear 
name — for it was among his last words to comfort one of 
tiiese dis^rraced sinners by giving him the glorious assur- 
ance; — ** This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." — 
My dear brother; what horrible doctrine this is on which 
we are aniiriadvertina? It makes me shudder when I think 
of it. It does nothing less by inference than to impeach 
the holy and ever blessed God with dishonoring himself 
by appearing to fellowship iniquity in saving sinners. Now 
the bible is full of promises to the vilest of sinners that will 
repent; that they shall at the very moment they do so, be 
received into the favor and fellowship of God Though 
they have been as wicked as Manassah, they shall thus be 
reef ivtd. Thouirh they have committed adultery and mur- 
der like David, they shall thus be received. Though they 



124 

Tiave been as vile as the penitent publican and prodif:a\ 
they shall thus be received — but now, the great professed 
advocates of this same gospel, contend, that a sinner who 
is very much disgraced in the view of wen ^ must not be re- 
ceived into the church short of doing penance '^ from four 
to eight years!" I ask you what is this but saying that if 
they do diS God does they 1 I 1 dishonor his cause and 
themselves as his professed disciples! and give an occasion 
for the world to say that they fellowship iniquity? In vi«nv 
of this doctrine what a great occasion was given in God's 
putting away David's sin, for the enemies of religion to 
say that he countenanced \us sin? and especially what great 
occasion is given for such an accusation in the parahle of 
the prodigal son? But the inferences are too horrible 
and blasphemous even to mention. If the result of their 
doctrine does not throw away the whole gospel^ I know 
nothing about an argument. Will it be said that Christ 
knew that those whom he received were penitent; but we 
do not; therefore it is necessary for them to stand a long 
time on probation? I answer — that is not the point at all. 
The difficulty is not whether they are penitent or not — but 
what will the ?^?or/r/ think? Remember the ground first 
taken by Archippus. Again; how long does it take these 
persons to be satisfied that a man is penitent, that they 
wish to get into the church on account of his worldly honor 
or worldly good? Why, the different sects will quarrel who 
shall have him: — and, while the man has hardly any evi- 
dence at all, to his own soul, that he is a christian, they 
will incessantly tease him io join the church : And minis- 
ters and people will give him the utmost encouragement, 
that he is a christian and need not doubt, and uarn him 
not to wait! Many such instances I think are occurring — 
when at the same time if a poor disgraced sinner, (I mean 
in view of the world) come to them and asks an admittance 
into the church — though he prostrates himself before them 
in the dust — they will frown him from them and tell him 
that he must do penance from ''four to eight years" before 
he can be received; they wish to be certain of his penitence! 



125 

is i( (lidiciilt for you to st3e the reason why tliey can get 
an evidence of penitence so much sooner in one case than 
in the other? Because, in the one case there is profit and 
worldly honor; but, in the other they are obliged to act on 
gospel prnndples and run the risk of faring as Jesus did in 
receiving sinners and ealinfif with thenn. Do you think 
dear brother, that I wish for an admission into these 
ChurcJes, makes me thus v\rite? No, I know you do not. 
la view of my final account, I declare I would not enter 
the most popular of them in Christendom, while they are 
lander the influence o^ such views and practices if they 
would unanimously receive me. No, God forbid. You 
tiovv understand clearly what I meant in my address to the 
people of Pawtucket by the whole gospel's being thrown 
away in dealing with me. This I showed ynu clearly to 
be demone^trated in the stand taken by Archippus at the on- 
set; and 1 trust that the foregoing remarks serve farther to 
confirm the statement. O that God would raise up men 
to preach the Gospel of Christ. My dear brother, try as 
far^as you can in public and pri\ ate to expose this system 
of the Ancient Pharisees, that under the garb of the gos- 
pel of God is laying hold of penitent publicans with a death 
grasp, does all it can to plunge them into dark despair; 
while it holds out a pretended sceptre of mercy to the self 
ritjhteous honorable of this world and thus deceives them! 
O Blessed Jesus, how lovely dost thou appear.^ — more 
lovely to me if possible, than ever— -thou friend of publicans 
and sinners! This Pharisaical doctrine not only withholds 
mercy from poor sinners, but it makes war with the gov- 
ernment of God. Now by the death of Jesus an infinite 
atonement has been made for sin, and God can now be 
just, and the justifier of him that believeih in Jesus - — 
Through this atonement he can now receive the very chief 
of sinners who repents, to himself — yea, to dwell with HIM 
in the New-Jerusalem: but according to this doctrine God 
has not a right thus to freely forgive the vilest of sinners : 
— for, if they admit that God has this right, how can they 
get cleir of the conclusion that they are bound to do tho 



126 



same? and iftliey adaiit tliat tlio glorioii? Gnd thus gives 
fellowship to the cliief of sinners, how ran they get clear 
of the inference that they are hound to do the same. Says 
the Apostle on this suhject — " Who shall lay any thing to 
the charge of God's elect? It is God that jusiifieth. Who 
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died — but this 
doctrine condemns those whom God jnstifieth and thus vir- 
tually throws away the blood of Christ thai u as shed for 
the forgiveness of their sins ! ! ! Now it is evident that 
the principal cause leading to siich defective views ol tl e 
fCospcl is to be found in the erroneous, meagre and super- 
ficial views which they entertain of sin. 

What constitutes the great evil of sin? and in what df)es 
its heinousness and criminality rhicjlf/ consist? iMost sure- 
ly, in its being committed against God. 1'his is the view 
thai David had of sin, in the days of his penitence ai d 
deep humility on account of his own transorrf?s-ions. It 
must be admitted, that David's sins against his n^ighl or 
vere of the deepest dye ; and of the most aggrava'ing 
character: — yet, in his confession, he evidently considers 
the all overwhelming source ofhis o^/</// and condemnation, 
to be his sin against God, His expression is remarkably 
striking — " Against thee, THEE ONLY have I sinnrd 
and done this ^vil in thy sight" — But what are ihe viev^s 
ff >?/> entertained by the generality of men — professor and 
profane, respecting the heinousness of sin? Why, that its 
demerit consists, almost wholly, if not entirely in some oi^ert 
acty in respect to our neighbor — and furthermore, that 
suck a criminality, is to be graduated by the views that 
men. entertain of such overt acts ; or in other words by 
public sentiment! Never was there a truer statement than 
this, perhaps. It has been demonstrated in thousands of 
ways, — as I gave an instance in a former communication; 
respecting the minister who was so horror-struck at the 
thoughts of my being retained in fellowship alter I had 
confessed my sin and imph:>red forgiveness; and yet w onld 
fellowship and commune with churches and ministers, by 
hundreds, who clasped slavery in their arms; involving le- 



I 



1^7 

jialized, allowed licrnliousiirss in \t^ most loathsome l(^rmg. 
Now observe thi.< remark, dear brotlier— — O that it may he 
m ).<t de^'ply en<rraveii on your heart. Sin in its' il' consifi- 
ered — that is, sm against Gud is not realized to be Di.**^'- 
(iRACEFUL by those wiio fear beinfj (Hsgraced in fel- 
lowshippintr any penitent sinner, however degraded in view 
ofthe worhl. 

In what does the dhgrare of sin principallv consist? I 
mean the real discrrace in the sij^ht ol* God and of all di<in- 
terested holy intelligent beinors? Why, most cert:nnly in 
the very thjng which constitutes its principal rrimlnatitij: — 
its being committed airainst God. Well, these ministers 
and professors will all acknowledge that they have sinned 
greatly against G td. That they sin against him more or 
less every day: — but do they feel as i( they weve di<o'rared 
by their sins — deeply disgraced: — covered with disgrace? — 
If they do^ thus look upon themselves — and ifthey r/o thus 
consider the chief disgrace of sin, to consist in its being 
commiiied against God — why do they shun me as they d ), 
and fear being disgraced \)y shewing me mercy v\h<^n I beg 
it of them? Ah! my brother, you see the Moiister Phar- 
isee here most clearly detected! And, that he lives and 
fw lis with pride not only undn* the Arminian cloak, but, 
under the high Calvinist and Hopkinsian garb! '^ es, after 
all of their theorizing in ivriting and preaching their ortho- 
dox views, respecting the great evil and shame of sin's 
consisting in its being committed against God, yet, when 
they were put to the test in their practice — they shut out 
the glorious and ever blessed God entirely! They 
come over completely, to the ground of certain pro-slavery 
men, who say to the abolitionists '* your theori/ is beautiful 
nnd good ; but it will not do to reduce it to practice!! !" — 
Now, whether the position assumed by William Law be 
correct or not:— that so sure as a man has a correct view 
of his own heart and sins, he will consider himself a great- 
er sinner than any other person — yet one thing I fully be- 
lieve is as true as the divine oracles — viz: that if a person 
lees himself 2iS he should, he will not feel to exalt himself 



above tho niost disfirraced .^iiuicr in the universe — and w ill 
\)*^ ready tmmedtdtt ht t«) receive hirii into fellowslup if he 
tnrri to God. I)Ut. if men hubitually/^r/ thfit tlie disgrace 
oi sin (:onsi>ts in some certain ifra f at is fow^.rds iiuin^ tlieii 
is such conduct, as has been acted out towards me very 
easily accoiinted for. 'I'liey consider tliat /am disgraced 
*by sin; and they are nof\ and they do not mean to con- 
taminate rhemsf Ives bv coming near me — and, as they do ' 
not habitually led themselves (hss^rnrcfl on account of sin, 
so, they do not hi!)ituany realize their criminnliiy to be 
great: — and, as they do not habiluaily realize their crinun- 
nUty t) be ^jreat, so as an infallible t nn^fquence they do 
noi habitually realize the need of an infinite atonement for 
tiieir sins: — and as rhey do not realize the indispensable 
necessity of an infinite atonement and Savior tor i/irm- 
5f /r/'>:, so, when a sinner in their view becomes so criminal 
and disgraced as they look upon me to be, they cannot tind 
f.iion^h in their views of {he f^ospel to sufi^ice for his inunt" 
f/i(ffr foro-fj^rnrss and fellowship — and therefore resoit to a 
substitute for the blond of Jesus — viz: t/mf of r/omnr j e i- 
an re from four to eio-ht tjenrs ! ! AJy dear brother this is 
a straight story and it is a true one. You see then how 
the glory of the gospel is lost si": ft of Men have lost 
sight of the claims of God, the moral Governor of the uni- 
verse as their law-giver: — consequently of their own great 
criminality and disofrace in sinning against him: and of 
course, there is no room in their minds for a right view of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, as mediator and savior of sinners. 
Now notwithstanding the greatness and enormity of my 
sins, yet I as fully believe as I believe that I exist, that if 
these ministers and professors who since my fall have been 
practically saying, '* I thank thee O God that I am not 
like that publican" could see their own hearts and sins, in 
their true light, every stone which they have grasped, to 
dash my brains out, would instantly fall from their hands; 
and they would begin to hope, if there was mercy for therfi, 
there might be mercy for mo also. O my dear brother, if 
you find yourself any where near the rocks and quicksands 



129 

of the anci'^nt Pharisees — on whicli the '^ foolish Oalla- 
tians'' foundered, bear away I beseecli you into the broad, 
deep and shoreless ocean, of J^.sw.s' aloneini) blunfl ! Many 
who sail under the pretended broad pendant of orthodoxy, 
art as completely ashore, a'S were the Gallatians. A Uuh^ 
professor^ not far from this place, of the greatest preten- 
sions to orthodoxy^ — since my fall^ held forth the doctrine, 
that it must take years of penitence to rest re me to the 
fellowship of God's peo[)le. My dear brother, God has 
placed me in a most eli jjble situation to take a clear view 
of*' Protestant Poperif-y — and this is what may be called 
high Hopkinism, Emnmnsite Popery ! Let no man accnso 
me of favoring the doctrine of Antinomanism — I abominate 
my own sin. I say that "the soul that sins it shall die." 
But I say also that Jesus Christ has power on eanh to 
FORGIVE sins. That his blood is sufficient to cleanse 
from all sin : — and, that ho who lays any thing to the charge 
of a soul, justified by God, through faith in Jesus, makes 
war with the government of the great eternal, and virttia ly 
throws away the whole sfospel — and that this lia^ b( en 
abundantly acted out in relation to my case I think I have 
shewn to a demonstration. 

O that God would raise up ministers and a people, that 
would pracficalh/^ preach the whole gospel of Christ.. I 
say />rflf^//ca//// dear brother; — for there are many, very 
many who theorise on it: — They condemn Unitar anism: — 
l^hey talk about an infinite Savior: — and yet, they prnc i- 
call// ^ixy Ihey feel there is no such Savior — They say th-y 
feel themselves to be the greatest sinners that ever lied: 
and yet, when a poor sinner like me — disgraced in vie *• of 
(he world, cries to them for mercy, they stop their eais a id 
fly from him, as they would if he were pltysicallly dis- 
eased with the plague! Men wili do anv tiling e'se, be- 
fore they will practicallf/ preach tlie gospel. i hey will 
give their goods to feed the poor; f 'r, by it they fuai/ i»et 
honor — I'hey wdl run the risk of being m »bbed, in reprov- 
ing sin; for. I)y this they rnai/ get honor of man — Yea, 
they may give their bodies to be burned in o:d(;r to j?ave 



130 



tlieir chara(^(ors among roen: — hut who, who, dare fol- 
low the example of Jesus, in takinir to tie arms of their 
fellovv!«hip a i)oor sinner, deeply disgraced in view of the 
world? [lere is the mo.st thorough test of^ moral courage^ 
with which man was ever tri(^d: — for, he who does ihis, is 
ahout as nure to l)e branded as being as vile as the person 
has been that he fellowships — and thus he loses his own 
reputation . This is the way in which Jesus lost his repu- 
tation with the Scribes and Pharisees. There were (%'o 
thino-s, in his conduct, which ma:le him so obnoxious to 
their wrath, that they would not suffer him to live. One 
WH-^, he would not admit that their righteousness — as high- 
ly as they thought of it, was sufficient to save them — *' Ex- 
cept your righteousness Tsays \ie) exceeds the righteous- 
ness of ihe Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter 
into the kingdom of heaven:" — and the otlier, was, he told 
them that those whom they considered the m(^st dis^^raced 
sinners mi^ht be saved through him — " Verily, I say unto 
you that Publicans and Harlots shall enter into the king- 
dom of God before you." Ah, they could not endure Jesus 
on this a'^count — his receiving sinners and eating ^ ith 
them, whdiJ he told his disciples to beware of the leaden 
of tiie Pharisees — the a'oct ine of the Pharisees, v\as more 
than thev could away with: — and those who now dare to 
imitate Jesus, in praitiadly preacliing the gospel, will meet 
with simil ir treatment from those of a similar spirit and 
views. O if I had the voice of an angel, I would cry to 
all the ministers ar.d professors of this land, and ask them 
who. who, among them dare act like Jesus in this respect. 
We may engage zealously in all the causes of reform — 
such as Temperance, Anti Slavery &c. and still not come 
up to this point: — because, in carrying forward thcKe 
causes, their advocates stand upon the law of God, to con- 
ihma Sin — but, to run the risk of being accused of filloifj' 
shifjitifr iniquiiy, by giving fellowship to a disgraced pen- 
itent sinner, is what many which will do the former, dare 
not come up to! Indeed^ my brother, as precious as are 
these causes — (and they never laid nearer my heart) yet 



131 

I tell you, that the advocates of them, need much grace 
and watchfulness, not to grow Pharisaical in carryiui^ t« em 
forward. O 1 Tear, greatly fear, that many, very many, 
after having been instrumental of a blessed work fur tiie 
poor slave will tlumselvcs come short of heaven on the 
ground of trusting to their own righteousness for salvation 
instead of looking to Jesus. O Jesus, Jesus, Jesus — he is 
all and in all. 1 thought of dwelling at some length on 
that subterfuge resorted to by many in order to get clear 
of their duty in respect to such cases as mine — viz: that 
of saying they could foj give hui not fellowship. But it 
needs it not. Let such persons, first prove that the glorious 
and holy God forgives those that he does not fellov\ship; 
or let them cease from such sophistry. Have they heard 
of such a thing in the conduct of God.'* And are they not 
solemnly commanded to forgive AS God for Christ's sake 
forgives them.'* Jesus Christ knew how contrary to the 
human heart was this doctrine of forgiveness; and he tliere- 
fore set it forth in the clearest light; and guarded it from 
evasion. Hear what he says to Peter — "If thy brotfier 
trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times 
in a day, l^jrn and say he repents, thou shalt forgive him.'' 
But dear brother, I ^e\\ down before them, said 1 re[)ented 
and asked forgiveness and they would not grant it. Have 
they in this turned their backs upon the gospel, and laid 
fast hold of the old papal doctrine of doing penance or not? 
1 leave it to your candor to decide by the word of God.- — 
If they have, then are we in the midst of Popery — alias 
Phariseism under the c^/^^wf^cfl? name of evangelical Prot- 
estantism! O God deliver thy people. 1 have only to add 
that after reading this letter I pray you to take your bible, 
turn to the 18lh C. of Matt, and read the parable \n the 
latter part. You will there have the unerring couns©! of 
God respecting those who refuse to shew mercy to an im- 
ploring brother.* I shall trouble you with but a few more 
communications. 

Your Jiffeciionatt Brother. 
* See note next page. RAY POTTER. 



13^ 



LETTER XVII. 

PuoviDENCE, (Li Prison,) Nov. 14th. 18-57, 
31 f/ clear Brother : — 

There has been one developement in connex^ 
ion with my fall, as undeniable, as it is astounding. 1 wi 
present it to your mind in this place, because it holds a 
cose connexion with the subject of my last communication. 
It is this: — The present organization of denominations and 
chu chfs AS SUCH, have noftUowship with David — the in- 
spired Prophet — the ancient king and sweet singer of Is- 
rael, and the eminent type of our glorious REDEEMER! 
Start not at this statement, as if it were a wild assertion, 
without proof: it has been indubitably proved in their con- 
duct towards me since my fall. Do not think that by these 
remarks I mean to compare myself with David for piety, 
I am only shew ing, that if my falling as 1 have, makes it 
indispensable that I should be shut out from the fellowship 
of God's people, notwithstanding 1 repent and cry for 
me^cy, certainly David's fall must place him in the same 
situation. Can any one deny the inference.'* Observe; 
they took the ground that on account of the greatness of 
my sin — the shame and disgrace of it, I must at all events 
be excluded from the fellowship of the people of God. No 
matter what protestation I should make of my sorrow for 
my sin — no matter how low I might lay before them in the 
dust and implore mercy and forgiveness — I must on the top 
of the whole be excluded Irom the church. Some thought 
I ought never to be fellowshiped any more, and some that 



* I ouglit to mention that I understood that Charles Sim- 
mons of Attleborougbj soon after my fall, advanced scriptural 
views in resfiect to my case— that he dared to pray for me in 
the pulpit and preached fath fully. 



133 

I o!ight to stand excluded and do penance " from four to 
eight years." And on what ground was this urged? I 
have already told you: — on the ground of the greatness or 
disgrace of my sin. Well David added to the sin of adul- 
tery that of murder — and, if the principle which they acted 
upon in denying me fellowship does not exclude David 
after his penitence and wljen he wrote the 5lst Psalm, 
then one thing is certain, viz: That in their estimation the 
more numerous the sins, of a similar character, the less 
criminal the transgressor. Here again is a dilemma: let 
them take which horn they please. Every child, that knows 
any thing about a legitimate inference from a proposition, 
knows, that they must take one or the other: — either ex- 
clude David from their fellowship wheii he penned the 51.s< 
JPsalm, or contend it is less criminal and disgraceful to 
commit adultery and murder, than to commit adultery 
alone! But let us make a supposition: — Suppose David 
himself, could he really now on earth: unknown, however 
to any one;— yet the very self-same David that he was 
when he wrote the 51st Psalm: — precisely the same in the 
sight of God: with all of his former piety and all of his 
penitence for his transgression — and suppose that it were 
known that he had committed the same sins which he did 
in the case of Uriah and his wife — I ask you if you think 
there is a prominent denomination or church in all this 
iand, that would receive him into their fellowship, f there 
were no more inducements on the score of worldly honor 
or gain than there is to receive me? No, be assured there 
is not. I am/////^ convinced of this. They would want 
him to do penance more than from four to eight years 1 can 
assure you. The statement is therefore correct — thai the 
present organization of churches and denominations «6<^^?.'f A 
have no fellowship for David: and I ask you iniere is not 
a way mark, that shews us beyond controversy their ^reat 
and awful departure from the real gospel way of salvation ? 
Does the bible excuse David in sinning. IVo! but ujiqual- 
ifiedly condemns him; — yet notwithstanding all this, this 
same David, taking his life altogether^ is represenltd as 
12 



134 

one ofthe most pious men thftt ever lived. There is that 
said of him, wliich is not said of any other person spoken 
of ill the holy scriptures — he is called a man at'ter God's 
own heart. Nor, is this character for piety, conhned to 
his WiG previous to his fall. Mear what God by the pen of 
inspiration records of him ^//cr /r25 death. 1 Chron. 29 
C 28 V. " And he died in a good old age full of days 
fiches and HONOR: and Solomon his son reigned in his 
stead." And you are well aware, that he is represented 
in the most honorable point of view, as a saint, by C'hriftt 
and the Apostles. Now I wisli to digress liere a moment 
and call your attention to the striking similarifi/ which 
there is, between the professed christian organization and 
the Jewish organization, when Christ appeared among 
them. How high were they, in their commendations of 
Moses and the Prophets — yet, at the same moment perse- 
cuting unto death Christ and the Apostles! Clearly evinc- 
ing that if the same Moses and Prophet* v^ ere then to have 
come among them they would have shewn them no more 
favor. And so now — not one of these popular preachers 
and churches, but what make their houses of worship ring 
with high encomiums of David. How they delight to read 
and sing his Psalms! Especially the 51st Psalm. No part 
ofthe Bble do they read so much: and, perhaps, there is 
no portion ofthe word of God that texts have so often been 
selected from as the 51st Psalm — written by David after 
his transgression: and yet if David, the real man, (stripped 
of all vnnddly appendages to induce them to take him by 
the hand) could be introduced to them, hardly one of them, 
could be induced to shake hands with him — much more 
give him the hand o{ fellowship! Gracious Redeemer, 
what delusion is here! How little do these professors 
know what is in their own hearts! My dear brother; I 
have no idea that he could get to a single communion table 
nor into a pulpit in this land. In what a state are the pro- 
fessed churches of God! They have no fellowship for Da- 
vid. This is no fiction. It is a sober realiUj. Perhaps 
there was no other way, in which I could have been brought 



135 

to see this so clearly as the one which God has taken: I 
mean by leaving me for a season to my own ways, and 
thus to fall into disgrace as I have: and my brother, why 
should /desire to have any more fellowship from them than 
David? I ought not: and by the help of God, I never 
again will give fellowship to any church that will not fel- 
lowship David There has been one great and radical 
mistake in respect to my views and uishes since my fall: 
and that is, that I was anxious to urge myself into their 
communion. Nothing can be more foreign from my feel- 
ings. Not but what I fully believe that God has many 
dear children among them; but I fully believe that the 
proud, self-righteous and selfish spirit of this world, sits at 
their helm as bodies — That such a spirit holds the keys of 
admission and exclusion — and that God's real saints who 
are within their walls, are in Babylonish captivity, that 
God would cause that solemn word to ring through and 
through their souls: — '' Come out of her my people, that ye 
be not partakers of her sins^ and that ye receive not of her 
plagues.^^ There never was any truth so clearly set forth, 
but what those who dreaded its power, would try to argue 
away its validity. Thus, when the case of David has been 
nientioned to some, they would immediately contend that 
it was not in point; there being so much more light now 
than there was then! 1 have already touched upon this 
objection in a former communication: but no matter if 
there is a little repetition on this point. These persons 
must be subjects of extraordinary illuminations themselves, 
who leave David so far in the rear!! How is it, that they 
quote the Psalms of this man-' — ?ls divine authority, when 
they have got such a great distance the start of him \u a 
knowledge ofdivjne things! My brother, which is the most 
enornmuti^— the foolishness or the wickedness of such an 
argument.^ 'I'hose who thus argue, seem more like per- 
sons enveloped in total Barbarian darkness^ than persons 
of the deep and clear views, that David possessed, of the 
law of God— 'the nature of holiness and the exceodiiig sin- 
fulness of sin ? David lived under another dispen.^ation 



tobesurc; in \v(ii(.h tilings \xere allo^vcrl vvliich arc nr)t now 
nlloNved. But, did thnt dispensrition allow adtil'.ery? or 
murder? Did that dispensation alier the votnrt of >in.'' — 
Under what dispensation were the ten cnmrnaiidnM^nts 
f];i von from ^-ount Sinai? Under th(^ very dispen>alitin 
which David lived. And who ever had a clearer view — a 
more thorougii acquaintance with the Irlter and spirit <>f 
those ten commandments than David: And }et, lh(;he 
persons in order to get clear of shewing mercy and fellow- 
ship to a poor sinner like myself, will argue, that David's 
light respecting the moral law of God was quite dim when 
compared with what they possess!!! Consequently, his 
case is not at all applicable — not in point when considering 
mine. But my brother, they would be more coni-istent, 
far more, to take the gro'.ind of one of my most biUer, flam- 
ing, religious opposers in Pawtucket and ar«iue t!)at this 
holy man of God finally sunk to hell! Yes, when express- 
ing her horror at the thought of giving ine fellowship, tl-e 
case of David was quoted, and she boldly declared that 
we had no evidence that David ever repented!! Yet this 
person is held in good standing and fejlouship by popular 
professors. Perhaps you begin to say, enough. But i>ow 
could I ha\e said less? Can you now, for a moment ques- 
tion the entire truth of my proposition — That, the professed 
christian organization of this land, I mean as churches and 
denominations have no fellows'nip for David, the eminent 
type of our Lord Jesus Christ? From this point of obser- 
vation, I ask you to look all around you; and ask ytsurFcIf 
if it is not high time, for some one to iifo forth in the name 
and strength of God, and call upon \hc pr<;fr>ec-rH t'< !lnvfMs 
of a meek and lowly Jesus, to come f/mrff fi(Hn ihe.-e mouiH 
tains of Pharisaical pride, into the valleys nod grr< ti pas- 
tures: beside the still v^aters; v^here Davifl f-und sueh 
comfoit to his soul. O uhnt delusion there is ^»rnniig tin m, 
pretending to read the Psain^s, preach from thrni a'ld sii-g 
them with delight, and yet have no fellowship for their au- 
thor! 

Your .Qjjtctioaotc Bio'hrr, 

\X\\ POTTKIl. 



I3t 



LETTER XVIII. 

Providence, (In Prison,) Nov. 16th. 1837. 
ill/ dear Brother : — 

In the account which 1 have given you of 
circumstances connected with my fall, I presented to your 
mind as I thought the contrast between the proud, unfor- 
giving spirit of this world, and the merciful spirit of Jesus. 
In my V2\h Letter I put the opposite conduct of certain 
persons, side by side; and I think you could not fail of seeing 
that the one was very much like the conduct and spirit 
of the ancient Pharisees, and the other like the spirit and 
conduct of Jesus. And, now, am I going too far, in saying 
that my dreadt^ul fall, has developed the fact, that professors 
of religion in general, are as destitute of the spirit of Christ, 
as (hey are from possessing right views of the gospel? I 
Would, by all means, avoid all unjust censure and all un- 
righteous judgment— and 1 know not, that 1 am conscious 
of the least feeling of revenge, or spirit of envy, to gratify 
in these* remarks — I only desire to exhibit truth: and 1 de- 
sire to lean on the side of charity concerning the conduct 
of others: — To make all allowances, that can be made, 
without going directly in the face and eyes of truth, and 
contradicting the most stubborn facts: — and I would have 
you do the same. But still, after we have exercised char- 
ity to iis utmost bounds, I think candor will compel us, 
on a survey of the whole case, to maintain the position 
which I have laid down. Let us look at it. How does 
the spirit of Christ, teach us to conduct towards fallen, dis- 
graced, imploring sinners? We certainly have a correct 
answer to this question in looking at the conduct of Christ 
himself. And what was that? Why my brother, he came 
into the world; from the bosom of the Father, to visit them; 
to save them. This was his special business — the work 
he came to accomplish, and he never faltered in it, until 
he spilt his blood on Mount Calvary, and cried with his last 
breath, *' It is finished!" Now, can we conceive, that I 



133 

appeared more sinful, more disgraced, in view of God'a 
professed people, who, on account of my degradation, have 
kept aloof from me; than sinners in general, yea, the least 
sinner appeared in Jesus's view, betore he visited this 
world? No one will hazard sucli an assertion: — for, what 
are our views of sin, when compared with his? Yet, this 
never kept Jems away. No, notwithstanding the guilt and 
degradation of a lost world of sinners he came into it — he 
r2527fr/ these sinners — he ate and drank with them; and 
although the Pharisees despised him iov it, yet the Angels 
of God adored and worshiped him for it: — but what v^ as 
the conduct of most professors towards me? My dear 
brother; I speak not now by way o^ fault-finduir. No; I 
am sorry to be obliged to speak at all — but truth compels 
me: — and what was that conduct? Did they vist me r — 
No — 1 have already told you, that of the five hundred pro- 
fessors in Pawtucket, not more than perhaps ten, excepiijig 
those of the church of which I was pastor, ever came nr^ar 
me: — and while I was suffering too, in almost an ui.paral- 
elled manner — and ichih my cry for mercy ^ was all the time 
lying at their feet. Come near me? — if you \\\\ believe 
me, they in many instances would not look at mc. .Num- 
bers of them had to pass the house where I lived; and you 
cannot conceive in what a posture they put themselves, 
frequently, in passing. I believe they did not actually hold 
their noses^ but in every other respect they resembled per- 
sons who were passing a place which they knew to be in- 
fected with some mortal, contagious disease — those loo, 
who before my fall I had been intimate with for years. I 
ask you if this looks, and acts like the spirit of him who 
came into the world to save sinners? I know that they 
framed many excuses. One was, (and perhaps the most 
prominent,) my censuring professors of religion, in my ad- 
dress to the people of Pawtucket. But, (as I have once 
before said,) what spirit did they manifest before this came 
out? Precisely the same: — for, my confession, had been 
lying at their feet, in the most humiliating terms for nearly 
three months before this address. They heard so much 



said, that was calculated to sink me in their estimation was 
another excuse. Well, did even the heathen Romans 
condemn a man unheard in his own defVnce? INo! )ret 
these chri:rtians thus coijdemned me! Did they ever come 
near me and ask me if various things uhich were stated 
concerning me were true? No never — but tork oiie sided 
iesUmony^ altogetJirr. I was tried by them (X-yartv^ and 
u'if/iout giving me a hearing I was condemned. Now you 
know that every candid, impartial person would naturally 
conclude, that in a case like mine, thousands of false state- 
ments would be made concerning it; and that they would 
consider it their duty, to suspend judgment until they heard 
the accused in his own defence: — but it has not been so 
in my case. I have thought as I have already hinted, that 
there has hardly ever been an instance, in which so many 
cb.'ohite and alfoo ether unf (tun fledlies, were told, as has 
been the case in respect to my fall. Yet professors of relig- 
ion, would seefn to drink in these representations, as greed- 
ily as ever a thirsty ox drank water: — and, not only that, but 
in numberless instances fabricate tht^m too. One uould 
have thought that their motto and watch-word was. *' he is 
d :)wn, and if lying and misre|)resentation will effect any 
thing, we are determined to keep him there." I know 
that so.ne will be ready to say, the stories came to them 
so well a.'ffhrnticated, that they could but believe them. — 
They had them from eye and ear witnesses perhaps. I 
will give you a specimen of the truth of these eye witness 
stories. A certain woman holding a close relation vvjth 
one of the ministers of this place, said, that one thing she 
knew was tvne—for she saw it with her own ci/es—shG saw 
a certain female come out of the house uhere I lived, with 
a child in her arms. Now, your imagination may supply 
what I forbear here to state respecting the inferences and 
construction, which would have been drawn and put upon 
that woman's story, if it had been true; and the use which 
she undoubtedly intended to make of it. Well, the truth 
was, she saw a female come out of tho house with a cloak 
rolled up, in some flannel y designed to repair the lining! 



140 

I merely mention this as a specimen of the truth of the e}'6 
Witness stories, that were rolled upon my devoted head, 
almost without number — and as for the ear witnesses, the 
reports which, undoubtedly, you heard of my preaching, 
since my fall, is a fair sample. Every day, almost, reports 
Would be brief that I was preaching — and founded tooj on 
the testitnony of those who said they heard me— yes, they 
could take their oatlis that they heard me— but still, it J3 
God's truth that I never have attempted to preach, up to 
this day. I have prayed in sonne conference meetings, 
and two or three times said a fe^- words sitting in my 
chair— but never have I gone farther; although [ have 
been most earnestly entreated to do so. But, to return: — 
and thus much for the exciise of standing aloof from me 
on account oi kearing so much. You know, my brother, 
it is not a valid one; but if they had don€ unto me as they 
would wish to be dealt with themselves, they would, as I 
have btjfore said, suspend th'ir judgment, until they had 
heard me in vin.iication or explanation. But [ can tell 
you the secret of this; mark what I say. If, after my sin, 
I had taken a leap into open infidelity — or, if I had braved 
it out in deni/ino- my sifi, they would have got along well 
enough — for, then they would have been under no obliga- 
tion to have forgiven me and fellowshiped me; but, as I 
confessed my sin and sued for mercy, the only possible re- 
sort for them; in order to get clear of the plain commands 
ot Christ, and grant me forgiveness, was, to make me out 
a consummate hypocrite, from first to last. To take bible 
ground and thus to forgive and fellowship me, was too 
much for the pride of their hearts to endure; as I have al- 
ready shewn you in former communications: from hence, 
in order to ease their consciences, for refusing me forgive- 
ness, they were willing to put the very worst construction 
on every thing concerning my case; and to give credit to 
almost every thing which was said about me. God forbid 
that I should judge unrighteous judgment, but I do most 
sincerely believe that this will be found to be a true illus- 
tration of this subject so far as many are concerned in the 



141 

great day of final retribution. There was another reason, 
no doubt, that operated powerfully with some — and that 
was, they wanted the nWieritance! Of this 1 think 1 shall 
fully convince yov: in another communication, on {\\e power 
of i>ectarianhm. I will only now ask you, if it does not 
appear to yon., that connected with my fall, the develope- 
ment has been fully made, that there is a great and lament- 
able want of tlie spirit ol* Jesus among his prolessed disci- 
ples? Now, in respect to their standing aloof, as they 
have done, I am willino to admit of every excuse and apol- 
ogy that can be offered with the least possible shew of 
reason — but that I bave not judged rashly I think the fol- 
lowing similitude will clearly demonstrate to your own 
mind, as it seems conclusive to my own. I^et us suppose, 
that one of your children, whom you dearly love, and for 
whose life and future usefulness you feel a great anxiety 
is taken sick at a small distance from you — and, suppose 
with the news of his sickness, you have very discouraging 
intelligence in respect to the prospects of his recovery. — 
Do you suppose, that in such a case, you would teei wil- 
ling to keep av\ay from your child-~giving him up f)r h>st ? 
No! nothing but insurmountable obstdcles, could hinder 
you from Hying to him: and notwithstanding all the (lis- 
courngmg accounts, which you had received from oihtir^ 
concerning his state, you would still be disposed, if possi- 
ble, to hope that there might be help for the child:— -and, 
you would not only look on the discouraging symptoms, 
but you would mark every favorahh token — you would 
fet/l of his pult — watch his respiration with intense anxiety; 
and every indication which wn« griven vou, of the possibil- 
ity of the recovery of your child, would buoy up your .s})ir- 
its and fill your heart with gladiiess 'i'i>e application you 
perc<*ive is most easy — you have no doubt, niride it already. 
Bui let mo ask you, if th-- conclusions are not irresistable? 
Should not the ties of grace be stronnrer than the ties of 
fiaturc? And shoidd not my professed brrthren in Christ, 
have lelt a str«mger and more intense solicitude for my 
.^f/i.-lUi'd recovery, then the^' would have felt for the nafu- 



raJ life of one of their children in such circumstances as 
we have jnst been supposing? And if they had felt such 
a solicitude, would they not have come and looked at me — 
and leit of my pult? Let any candid person under heav- ^ 
ens answer this question, and 1 venture to affirm that he! 
will answer it in the affirmative. It is a plain case. — ; 
But did they do so? No — but every unfavorable symptom | 
respecting my health, they were swift to give credit to — in \ 
their view, every thing concerning me was death, death, 1 
death; while an angel from heaven could hardly have made 
them believe that there was the least sign of spiritual life 
and recovery in my case. One thing in connection with jl 
this subject was most striking. When my confession first II 
come before the public, many were perfectly satisfied with 
it — as in the instance of Gerrit Smith, the writer in the 
Herald of Freedom, kc. Yet others could see no signs of j 
penitence in it at all. One minister in this region, said, | 
as I understood, that there was no more evidence of peni- ' 
tence in it than there was in the devil! Do you think such 
persons iranlvd me. to live? Look at the similitude of the 
sick child and judi/e. Never, perhaps, in this region, has 
a man fallen, on whose neck so many feet, professors and 
profane, ucre instantly placed to keep him down, as on the 
neck of your sinnmg and unhappy brother. One promi- | 
neit individual, in conversation with one of my friends, a j 
short tiiwe since, was honest enough to confess that he • 
greatly feared I should rise again I speak metaphorically, 
but it is a sober truth that there were persons in the region j 
ol' Pav\ tucket, that were so greedy after •' the inhtriteiicc^'^'* 
that they were ready to bury me before the breath left my 
I) >dy. My dear brother, mv soul is sick when I reflect on 
this suSject. Where, where was that spirit, whxh seeks 
to save that which v^ as losi! I wa? like a mariner who 
hid talhm overboard. Aniidst the warring elements, 
breasting the mountain waves, 1 laid hold with one hand 
on the ship - cried tor help! help! from my former ship 
mates — but the officers of the ship commanded my ban 1 
to be severed frcjui my body, that I might again drop in 



143 

the deep — and it was done. I laid hold with the other, 
and met with the same fate! Then with bleeding stumps, 
erect by the hand of God alone preserved from sinking, I 
looked this way and that way, and cried for help and mer- 
cy — but the answer from the popular professors of the land 
aivas — sink him! smkhim!~at least from four to eight 
years, lest we be DISGRACED with his company!! My 
brother, is this the spirit of Jesus? 

/ remain most affectionately Yovrs, 

KAY POTTER. 



LETTER XIX. 

Providence, (in Prison J Dec. 10th, 1837. 

Ml/ dear Brother : — 

In the course of my communications, I have 
frequently adverted to the present organization, of the pro- 
fessed christian denominations and churches. In this^ 1 
will briefly give you my views, on that subject. To speak 
comprehensively, I fully believe, that Mrow^A this organiz- 
ation the people of God have been carried into Babylonish 
captivity — you understand me to mean spiritually. To 
shew y(»u what \ mean, I will lay before you a specimen. 
Take, if you please, a single neighborhood. In it, are a 
number of humble christians. 'J'hey are poor, as it respects 
this world's goods; for God's people are generally so. — 
They meet for worship, peradventure, in a school-room; 
or, in a private house. Their worship is simple, plain and 
spiritual. In the s<nne neighborhood are numbers of rich 
and influential men, destitute o^ trve religion. One writer 
observes, that man is a religious animal — and in a certain 
sense, this is strictly true; for men who are destitute of 
true religion, are always framing one to suit their own 
taste as a substitute. So with tiiese rich, unconverted 
men under consideration. They cannot endure the hum- 
ble, cross-bearing mode of worship, practiced by these 
poor saints — and so they go to work to provide a substi- 
tute; partly, no doubt, to ease their consciences for Iheir 



144 

total neglect of religion — and partly to acquire a greater 
name for benevolence, and as beino* friendly, to the cause 
of God. They tell these poor, despised saints, it is a pity 
they can't have a good meeting-house to worship in. It 
would be far more convenient — besides, many persons of 
^''property and standing ^"^^ would then attend worship, wha 
will not now come nigh. Here, the temptation first lakes. 
It touches the remainmg pride of their hearts — to rise into 
notice — to increase the numbers of their congregation.—^ 
Besides, satan here makes use of the specious argument, 
of its placing them in a situat/on to do more good. Well, 
now comes the proposal for an amalgamation of the church 
and the wo 1 J. These rich influential men, propose to form 
a society made up of themselves and these humble chris- 
tians, for the purpose of building a meeting-house and sup- 
porting a minister. It is agreed to readily. But mark — 
who has the control now} The men who have the money. 
^nd who are they? Why the rich, influential, unconverted 
men, we have spoken of. Here then, at the very onset, 
tliese christians have put their necks under the yoke — and 
tiiis is their first entrance into the suburbs of old Babylon. 
In all the plans and operations of the society, in respect to 
building \\\^ house, unconverted men have the control, and 
these poor saints are only nominal members. Well, the 
work goes on. The house is completed. It is a splendid 
one. The fashionable ladies and gentlemen of the town, 
are highly pleased with it. Now, if they can obtain a m/w- 
ister^ that will please them as welt as the house does, all 
will go on well. Understand, the society has built the 
house, and the same society must support the minister; 
and of course they must have a minister which suits ^/if?;w ; 
or, they will not support him. Suits whom? Why the 
influential men who govern. And who are they? We 
have just seen — unconverted n\en\ A minister is therefore 
put on trial: — but if he preach the tnhoL t/uth of God — and 
practice in accordance, he most certainly will not suit. — 
This cannot be, unless sin and holiness have changed their 
natures and became one. Besides, you remember these 



145 

fnshionablf gentlemen and ladies would not worship Christ 
in the manger. The minister, therefore, must trim to suit 
the society, and I am sorry to say, that it does not generally 
take long to find one that will do it. The work is then fin- 
ished. 'J'he saints are thrown into the back gromifl. They 
become mere cyphers, as to influence, and the whole con- 
trol of the ministry, as well as other concerns of the church, 
is tnrtually thrown into the hands of unconverted men. — 
Now, my brother, do you not know that this is a fair 
5/:*^c2we/i of the condition of the present organization of 
churches and denominations in this land? so far as your 
observation has extended? It is so. I have often said, 
that I wished some one would write a book entitled the 
•' DeviPs IVaps.^^ Here, you have one of his snares. — 
By it, he has lead away God's Israel into captivity. You 
see the minister ^ must suit the society — and the controling 
influence of the society is made up of unconverted men — 
which is nothing less than the spirit of this wo Id. Con- 
sequently the ministry must gauge themselves by this stand- 
ard: or they cannot get a settlement, or salary* What 
next? Why this same influence, throws itself clear back 
to the fountain head. I mean into the colleges and schools, 
where, (as the saying is,) young men are fitted for the 
ministry. Now admitting that the young nian before he 
commences this work of "fitting for the ministry," has pi- 
ety, and some notions of being faithful to God; I e is soon 
taught that such and such notions will not do — and thus 
he is hewed and (not squared, but) rounded to suit this state 
of things. Did you ever hear the story, of a certam cele- 
brated teacher, in one of the principal theological schools 
in this country, telling young men who were fitting for the 
ministry under his care, that they had better not pray 
aloud for the slaves! This will serve for a Sfiecinien — 
Now, I will not say that the mini.stry of this land is made 
up of unconverted men. God alone knoweth the heart : — 
but 1 will say that it most clearly appears to me, that as a 
general things they are gone into captixity, in the manner 
whicii I have been describing. What a state of thmgs!— 
13 



146 

I 5iavv it, measurably years ago— but T was not so faithful 
to the li^ht which was given me, as I should have been 
I virtually held on upon these Babylonish garments I 
ha^ed to give up my s:ood //flrwe;— and take unn)inaled re- 
proach from ^^ Old Babylon/' Although for twelv'e years 
] i)ave nominally kept clear from this state of things, yet 
1 virtually, as I before said, held on upon them in ma'ny 
respects. I conformed, most wickedly conformed, to many 
of their modes and maxims. But 1 fell— fell into deep 
disgrace -so true it is, that he who will save his life shall 
lose It Nevertheless, I feel as if I had experienced a 
§ir€at deliverance in this respect; although it has been at 
such a great expense. To those who see these thim^s as 
I have seen them for years— but who are haltinir bet\veea 
two opinions about coming out of Babylon, I would \i[ 
could speak to them, give them a most solemn warnincr to 
make haste, I often think when reflecting on this subject 
of some words we used in play, when I was a \\n\e boy— 
'' Sit down or I will knock you down.'' O I would say to 
every soufthat ever has tasted the love of God— and who 
has got into Babylon— and of course exalted iu the estima- 
tion of this world— ^^ get down quickly, before you aie 
knocked down " You see /was knocked down 1 prav 
others may take warning— but make haste and comedown, 
that they may receive Jesus into their houses. Now, after 
a church goes into captivity, in the manner which J have 
already described, it becomes a real snare to catch every 
young convert in the neighborhood, and lead him into the 
same state. For, he feels as if he ouL^ht to unite with 
the people ofGod— to join the church:— So he joins the 
cliurch, and by joining the church he goes into captivity. 
O my brother, who will sound the alarm.? Who will make 
war uith Babylon.? Who dare do it? Behold her walls— 
her towers— her riches— her honor— her glory— her com- 
bined power and determination lo resist at the onset, the 
weapons of truth, wielded by the despised fdlowers of Je- 
sus.^ But she must come down. It is written in the book 
of God's decrees— and I trust, that the time is at handj— 



14? 

But what a conflict will precede! In her self conceited 
triory, she will a[>pear for a while to scorn all attempts at 
her overthrow, as Goliath did David. But when she dis- 
covers hrrnr/ns made in her walls — then will fall the storm 
of her indi;2^nalion upon the true soldiers of the cross, who 
are heseiu^ing her. Colleges — Theological schools — Dr's. 
of Divinity — ministers hy thousands — worldly professors — 
denomination selfishness — and the whole host of Pharisees, 
all fly to her rescue — but all in vain. The voice of God 
will be efl^ectual — '' Come out of her my people'' — o7icf theij 
will come. If in no otber way they will be thrust out — or 
in other words, they will be ''knocked down." Then will 
come her final, her great fall and ruin. **And he cried 
with a mighty strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is 
fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and 
the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean 
and hateful bird." Glory to God for this prophesy. God 
hasten \.\\g fulfilmrjtf, O, it seems to me, that I hear the 
rumbling of bis chariot u heels, coming to deliver Zion. — 

for a lufhf, fniflifnl ministrij — called of God. and filled 
with t!ie Holy Ghost, to enter into this work. My dear 
brother arm yourself for the fight. As I lay here, bleeding 
at every pore — with broken bones — covered with wounds, 

1 say unto you fii^ht — in the nan^e ©f God I say, fight the 
hnflles of the Lard J sus. Give no quarters to Babylon. — 
No my brother; half may work will never do. /tried that 
course more than fifteen years. There must be a thorough, 
entire, radical and final coming out from the present state 
of things, on to the ground occupied by Christ and the 
Apostles. Instead of the doctrine and practice of tiie 
Pharisees, the pu»-e and the whole crospel must be preached 
and acted out. When a ministry shall arise, that shall thus 
preach and a(*t — that u ill make no compromise with the 
proud and selfish spirit of this world, then may we lift up 
our head-i and rejoice, for the redemption of Zion drawetli 
nigh. O it is enough to make one weep and groan in spir- 
it, to see the f/cLsion which now so generally prevails 
among what is termed the Protestant churches. They are 



I 



Us 

hcwiiilinnr (Jje Calliolic al).)nnnalioiis — nnd as I have bcfor 
said, warning the nalirui to ht^waro of Catholic usurpatio 
wjjen, ihvy t/ttmsdrrs have gone into I5;ih3 h)nish caj)tivit^ 
i/i precisely the same way that the llcmish Church dit 
in the days of Coristantifie. The hihh*, in a great njcasnre 
is forsaken, and public sniflinrnf, substituted in its btead 
for a rule of faith and practice — ;\nd 1 am oblitjed to say, 
that in " littiuir men for the ministry" as it is termed — man, 
yes, vam man. has to an awful extent, assumed the prov- 
ince of the Holy Ghost — and substituted the wisdom of the 
world — and exaJlmcy oj human speech, for the demonstra- 
tion of the spirit and power of God. (lod deliver Zion. 
So prays your unworthy but 

^^IJlcciionatc H rut her, 

KAY POTTER. 



LKTIICRXX. 

Pkovidknce, (in Pri.^onJ Dkc, IGth, 1837. 
Mij (har Jlrother : — 

Sfcfariatiis/n^ in the proper acceptation of the 
t(Tm, is purely selfish, and is one of tht; forws in wliich 
f^c\i''rtf>hfe(Hfsiiess exhibits its('lf. Sell-ri<:hteousness lakes 
)uidc in that which is our mnn — and may as readily seize 
on " our denomination," lor such a gratification, as on any- 
thin<r else. Indeed, it assumes a very specious form uhen 
coming in this shape; for notu itiistanding its nitiiusic de- 
formity and extreme loathsomeness in the siiiht of God, it 
assumes the garb and makes ()retensiuns to ^real zeal for 
the Lord of Hosts How many are diivnio f>rvvard in 
))reaching, and praying, in going to meeting; ami observing 
religious ceremonies — in exhorting sinners to rej)entance 
atid building up churches, in (orming benevolent societies 
and sending out missionaries, in building meeting-houses 
and supporting ministers, promote revivals, under the pre- 
tence of a desire to glorily God and savt^ sruds; wfien, all 
the while ti»e very ntdin spring' oftiieif actinii, i<, this same 
self-rigliteous sectarianism? JMuliitudos, u it. .out doiibt. 



I4n 

Yot tlios(« srtrtici persons, t doUht not, arc so sclf-dcrcirrd 
in respect to tl e mutives which iiiiliicMicc thoni, iliat tht^y 
lodk ii[)(Mi ihc^ir tl(>hi<»s aiitl sayini»s with much sc^lfcorrt- 
|)hiccricy; as (icsitrned to advance the ^lory of (jod, and 
pure rcdmion in the woild. Nnt that lliey are iicrcssari/i/ 
dc;ceived — for, tiiey might try thcimselves hy the unerring 
standard; but, they ne«r|ect this And pass on in their own 
(h;hn^ioris. Indeed, this disease has grdati}' inTectcd real 
christians in tlie did'erent (hriornimttions; find tliey will 
^<)()nf r or iat(?r he astonished heyond fexpression, to see 
h )\v tl'py have hcen dc'ceived by it. It is, without douht, 
one of the grctalest curs(^s t(> tite cause of ('hitst in exist- 
ence, and one; of the <rreat(;st hirnhanccis to its prosperity^ 
One wi iter considers it the *'- j/iark (tf f/ia b/a.s/,''' spoken 
of in Revela ions. It must he (h»ne away, b(^fore tl e com- 
nicnccfncnt (d'lh(' MiNeninn). To si ew you a s|)e< imen 
of its hi('c«Mi.sness and deformity, is llie objiH't of this com- 
munication. I wish you to observe; that I (h> not consider 
th(i dcnominatiofi to Nvhich the j)ersons belong, who wrre 
actors in this scene, tnorr und<'i the iidluence of sectarian^ 
ism than other denominations. No — nor the church of 
which they are members, mcne than other chnrchfs. In- 
deed, 1 tliiiik some of the members of that cbnrcb are as 
free from it, as almost any persons in tlie world. \A hat I 
shall say, I mean to apply to those individnnh, and those 
atonCj who engaged in the transactions. IWit, that there 
were individuals who engaged m transactions relative to 
my fall, which most clcmrly developed this loathsome spirit^ 
I tl»irdt you in the sequel will readily admit. (»od wlio 
knows the secrets of all hearts knows, that I make this 
statement not from the least hard feeling which I enter- 
tain towards any of the actors in this scene. No: 1 lovfi 
them — sincfrclij do f love (hrm. But I do it soldi/ ^ (if [ 
have the least knowledge of my own heart,) to draw a faint 
picture of the enormiti(;s of scctaricinism, which I myself 
have in former years, been as deeply involved in, perhaf)s as 
almost any other person; but which I now see to be infinite- 
ly deleterious to the advancement of the cauvc of the blessed 



150 

Hedeemer. Let me in the first place shew you the temp- 
tations to its exercise. You well understanci the ground 
on which I stood, and tlie church under my care before 
my fall, in respect to denomination connections. We 
maintained the independent form of church government. 
Tliat is, that every church is solely dependent on God — 
on his word alone for all necessary directions in faith and 
practice: — and that denominational connexions, as lliey 
now exist are Anti-Christian. That under the immediate 
supervision of the Apostles, in the primitive ajies of the 
church, no such organizations existed: — that every indi- 
vidual church was independent of all other churches, and 
recognized no higher ecclesiastical tribunal on earth, in 
the administration of its government. Now, this stand, 
1/ou very well know, was extremely obnoxious to the dis- 
pleasure of sectarians. Although many of them professed 
to regard me as a christian — and to approve o^ some things 
in me very highly, yet, this, they could by no means away 
With. However, there was a large church raised up undt r 
my instrumentality, who maintained these princi{)les; and 
just before my fall had come ir»io possession of a large ai d 
commodious meeting-house. To obtain that metting-hou>e, 
I labored, I believe, in an iinparalkhd manner. At a time 
V hen 1 had no stated salary — and hardly knew from one 
day to another, where bread was coming from for myself 
nnd family, I undertook the mammoth work of collecting 
money by subscription, to pay for it. We bought li of the 
Universalists, and I think the whole amount to be paid, 
Was not far from four thousand dollars. What a sum fur 
nn individual to gra[iple with in my circumsiances! Yet 
1 erfgaged it. 1 had to beg the money — that is, get it sub- 
scribed, then collect it — do all 'he business in paying it 
over, &c. Scc. I not only travelled through this region, 
but visited towns afid cities niany hundred miles distant. 
J biulTered much — depriving myself of the i-onif >rts and vec- 
cer^saries of life in my journeys. I travelled one whole hot 
su n oer's day in a certain neigh!)oring city, and got only 
iiWd dollar, I sent hundreds of letters in every direction 



151 

to obtain help in paymg for the hr)U8e. I gave in a!)out 
one hundred dollars oi" my oion inoneif — that is. money 
which was given to me, to help along the work. One man 
in my native town, said, he would not give a cent towards 
the house, yet gave me fifty dollars — and I put in every 
cent of it. Besides the money which I gave, I throwed 
in about sixty dollars^ due me for a periodical work uhich 
I published. After toiling in this manner for about two 
years, or more, 1 succeeded in raising and paying over, if 
T mistake not, nearly three thousand dollars. The debt 
was so reduced, that I thought we could manage so as to 
meet it; and I concluded to rest from this toil. About 
this time the church voted (o allow me a stated salary of 
about four hundred dollars a year: — and, about this time 
I fell! 1 cannot digress to follow out reflections which 
naturally arise here. Now, what would have been the 
voice of pure and disinterested religion, in view of all this.^ 
Why, althotjgh it might have plainly seen, that ! was too 
intent on getting this house — too anxious to be like olher 
nations, lo have a king — and, alrhouij^h it abhorred the .<m 
which brought me down — yet, it wouid have wei)t most 
freely over nnj woe: and it would have began most earnestly 
to enquire, '' Is there still no hope for the man? May it 
not be possible for the child yet to live.^" Yes my brother, 
you know, and every one knows, that this would have been 
the language of true religion, while bending over this heap 
of ruins Not so with selfish sectarianism. No! tie lan- 
guage of ///r//, was, *' FJe is dead: now then, for the in- 
heritance. Her^ is a large church and meeting-house^ 
and now for an accession to our denomination; and in or- 
der to accomplish this to our honor and profit^ it is n(»ces- 
s :rj that he should be out of the church and out of the place. 
It is important that he be out of the church on account of 
the disgrace which would be connected wit!j his remainirjg 
in it: although ever so penitent: — and, il is important that 
he should be out of the way, cn/ircl//, for fear that even 
his r/cn^I holy^ if he remain in Pawtucket streets, will have 
an influence to thwart our plans. It will not do for him 



r 



1.^2 

even to be buried in Pawtncket, for feartliat the members 
of" (he cSnirch, while reading the inscription on his toinh 
«l')iie, ^hotild seem si ill to hear a voicte from his hfeless 
c<»r[>se, I'uldin^L]; ihejn to rerhernhrr tlife tilith which he (lift 
li II ihem, and lo beware of selfish sectarianism, as they 
Won d a sa!« lite ofsatan." INly brother, 1 am not f;rcr-tf//- 
(h-'nii^ this picture. No. I was compelled to believe that 
this very work was iioinjy; on in Pawtucket, in a very few 
d;iv5s iilter my I'ail Yes, God let me see the visage of this 
monster. snrUirianis/n, in circumstances calculated to make 
a mv>j>t deep and lasting impression on my own mind — in 
circumstances, which pre[)are(l me most clearly to make 
the contrast between its spirit and practice, and that ol the 
religion of Jesus. Heaven and Hell are scarcely more 
opposite, than the one is to the other! But I lay bet'oro 
you facts to substantiate what 1 have said, and to shew 
you that my views in relation to this case, are somethinir 
more than '^ evil surmisings." Yery soon after my con* 
fossion, perhaps in the course of three days, certain pro- 
fessors of religion began freely to express themselves, tliat 
the only way for the church to be saved, was to join a cer-* 
tain denomination. My views ofstanding alnne^ were then 
held up, as resulting in a complete failure — for they said, 
•^ You see the result: — the minister is fallen, the church is 
ill trouble, and they have nobody to help them. A certain 
minister, is saiJ to have abounded in language similar to 
this — as well as a number of private members. These 
persons, let it be understood, manifested from the first, a 
great zeal that 1 should be out of the church: — especially, 
the minister. But a day or two after I made my confes- 
sion, he fell in with one of the members, and plainly told 
him, that if the church did not exclude me, the church 
under his care, could have no fellowship for them: and all 
along he and others already alluded to, strongly insisted 
that I ought to leave the place. Now just at this tiuie, 
ihey began to be very thick with Archippus and Ins party: 
were heart and hand with him in his proceedings in the 
church — in excluding members, &.c. which I have already 



153 

layod before yon. Well, now for the cine to this affair, 
which 1 bf'iieve will satisfy you that 1 atn correct in n.y 
opinion of th.eir /?/^/n^e.s and condnct. Their answer to 
you, no doubt, if you were to enquire of them, why they 
were so zealous that 1 should l)e out of the church and out 
of the [)lace, would l)e — That they ihougiit it tijeir duly, 
thus to shew their abhorrence of the sin of hcnitiousiuss. 
But, observe — while these very words are flowins^ from 
tlieir lips, they clasp Archippus close to their bosoms! — 
They h'dve full Jellowshipfhr him You may ask if they 
were not ignorant of the charges alledged against him — 
and of what he had actually confessed? Ignorant my broth- 
er! these very persons, or a number of them were well in- 
formed of his conduct, before I had hardly heard a lisp 'fit' 
The very " oman of which I have already spoken, who accu- 
sed Archippus of so insulting her, that she dared not stay 
alone in the house on his account, v. as a member i (the same 
church with them — in good standing! They had often heard 
her statements— or heard of them — and Mrs. W. declares 
that a respectable si:;ter of that church, living in the imme- 
diate neighborhood, was present, when Archippus made 
the confession which I have already spoken of — and lur- 
thermore, some of these iiery persf^ns^ j)rofcssed to be to dis- 
gusted with hiis conduct, that for a considerable time, they 
utt<Tly refused to aUend our conference meetings on his 
account. But nmr, they could most heartily fellovvslup 
Archippus — but were horror struck, at tlie thought of my 
being retained in the church, for fear of giving countenance 
to licentiousness! My brother — is not here another dilem- 
ma? But all ihis and more too N^-w tliis minister had 
heard so much concerning me, that he soon about cotne to 
the conclusion in his own mind, that I was a bvpocnte. Did 
he liear nothing lespecting Archippus? Rut lurther — in 
order to show how much he was iniluenced by the dread 
of fehowshiping lieerffiimsrriss^ let me statf this is the same 
vinn that in a t'oriuer communication I alluded to, who ar- 
gued VI iih al! his rnii/ht, in lavor of rrt-iining southern 
Churches in fellowship • who nursed slavery m liit ir very 



154 

bosoms. Now yow know ai»d every one else kno\v!«, that 
sfavtrt/ toleratt^s licentiousness in all of its riiost ioatlisonie 
forms. It boldly nnllilies the marriage covenant and puts 
the seventli conimrindment of God under its feet — I say it 
does ad of this and a thousand fold besides — yet. this man 
contended \\ith all his iniaht, that he ought not to break 
tellowshii) with churclies that are immersed in this abonnn- 
able system, and told a certain man that he would give 
him one month to bring forward a single passa^ic of scrip- 
ture to prove that he ought to break fellowship with those 
southern churches! Now my brother can you believe,can 
any man believe, who has the le^st candor that that min- 
ister was really influenced by a godly tear of tellowshiping 
licemiousness which induced him to take the stand which 
he did in respect to my exclusion from the church and 
banishment from the village? Supposing I icere, what he 
was wont to represent me; a hypocrite — and was not pen- 
itent—how was it that he was all at once so pioush/ njj'uit- 
cd'xw respect to a church that retained one licentious per- 
son in its fellowship, while he clung with all his p II" /r ship- 
in<r power:; to churches that openly, and professedly vindi- 
cate slavery, wliich tolerates iwirersnl licentiousness, in 
those whom it robs of liberty! Can you put these things 
together and reconcile them? No! You cannot. Ah, 
here is the revelation of the thoughts of worr hearts. This 
is all easily enough solved. To break fellowship with 
southern churches that openly tolerates all kinds of licen- 
tiousness \\ i!l iveaken our .svc/ — but in order to get a church 
and meeting house info our sect, it is necessary that a fal- 
len though imploring man should be excluded from the 
church and bani^ied from his home! This is the (xplana- 
tioiL my brother:— -without doubt this is the trtJte one. It 
speaks for itself Tt cannot be fairlv misunderstood. And 
further — we can make use ofArchippus to //f//> our plan 
forward — to make an accession to our denomination — we 
will therefore take him to our arms and nurse him— though 
one of our oun members charge him with vile conduct — 
tiiough he has made the confession which he has and then 



155 

denies it — we will hold him fast ; but the other man ue 
must crush — he must not only be out of the churcii but out 
of the place for fear that he v\ill be detrimental to the 
growth of rmr denomination by hindering tlie church of 
which he formerly had the care, from uniting \\itli us. — 
I make this statement, in fuil view ofthe probability, 
that if ever it is made public, a thousand venomous secta- 
rian darts, will instaiitly be poured from their quivers; aimed 
to destroy me. But I feel it my duty to exhibit a s^peci- 
men of sectarianism — and ought it not to be done? But 
further, this same minister has had an opportunity since 
iny imprisonment of more cb arly developing the character 
of sectarianism and the motives which influenced him in 
his conduct towards me. A petition to the General As- 
sembly was presented to him, to head, for my liberation 
from prison. He utterly refused to do it except a condi- 
tion were inserted in it that 1 siiould leave the place. He 
said a great many would sign a petition for my liberation 
it' I would leave tlie place. He was told 1 had before left 
the place but the mob followed me. He said I did not go 
far enough: my friends kept up a constant correspondence 
with me. ifl would go fifty miles off' 1 would not be 
troubled. He would come under bonrJs that I should not 
be troubled or mobbed. Now what is the plain English of 
lliis.^ Why this is it. *' Jf he will not leave the place I 
will not so far as my influence extends let him out of pris- 
on:" — ^or which is the same thing, *' If he will not leave 
the place; so far as my influence extends, 1 will keep hrm 
in prison.^' Now, my brother, I desired to live in Paw- 
tucket, that I might shew by my future conduct and con- 
versation that although I had greatly sinned — yet 1 did 
still love God and his cause: and that I sincerely repented 
of my sins. And 1 desired to shew this to the very people 
among whom I had fallen and sinned This was accord- 
ing to i/our advice also. Besides, I had some invaluable 
friends there, who in my wretched slate, afforded me in 
many ways great assistance — and as I have before said, I 
knew of no place under the heavens to resort to, where 1 



lo6 

conlJ obtain a subsistence for my belpless family. Tbis 
was my situation — and now mark ihe position of this min- 
ister towards me. It was not enou«-h that I had suffered 
already as I have shewn you in the preceding communi- 
cations—but it was now a time for him to take advantage 
of my wretched condition in a loathsome prison to drive me 
to submit to a condition which all along had been so dear 
to his heart, viz: that of being banished from my native 
state! Out o^ the place would not satisfy him — I must go 
at least fifty miles off* — which would carry me beyond the 
limits of Rhode-Island. In the month of November, with 
a dreary winter before me, I must take my family — a num- 
ber of whom were helpless — without a dollar to help my- 
self with, and pitch my tent among strangers, and I must 
go, too, where^ if I were suffering the utmost distress, I 
could not be helped by my friends in Pawtucket! Now, 
here, my brother, you have a specimen of Sectarianism— 
for all of this must be done, in order that the plan might 
be accomplished, of getting the church and meeting-hovse 
'' into our denomination;" Don't you see? — he must go 
where he will not keep up a correspondence with his friends 
here, 1 think that John Quincy Adams, has at some time 
used the phrase, '* Sublime beauties of slavery ;" here 
you have a specimen of the SUBLIME BEAUTIES OF 
SECTARIANISM! There is no doubt, but what one 
argument of this minister and that of his coadjutors in 
vindication of my banishment, is, that if 1 staid in the 
place, there would be a mob. Aye, my brother — and they 
ought to be met, with the sentiment addressed by Dr. Chan- 
ning to the people of Boston. *^ A government that an- 
nounces its expectation of a mob, does virtually, though 
unintentionally, summon a mob, and would then cast all 
the blame of it on the " rash men," who might become its 
victims" Never, was there a truer sentiment than this: — 
it is what I have all along, you know, contended for — and 
its application to this case of mine stands thus — ''The in- 
fluential men in a place, who announce their expectation 
of a mob, do virtually, though perhaps unintentionally, 



II 



157 

summon a mob." ye^s my brother — no doubt but what 
he will still ground his objection to my staying in the place, 
on his fears, that if I stay^ there will be mobbing! but 
yuu see the bottom! Besides, the mobbing had ceased for 
weeks, hi;fore I came to prison. 1 shewed you how God 
delivered us; and even the mob themselves, some of them, 
i understood, said, I had suffered enough. So you seethe 
mob were satisfied; but not so with Sectarianism. No — 
that must still follow me; and this man, must stand ready 
to make use of the extremity to which I was reduced^ to 
banish me from my home — my native state — beyond the 
reach o^ your sympathy and that of my other relatives — 
beyond the help of other friends, who, notwithstanding my 
sin, still can pity me when in distress! I know it will be 
said, that this minister did sign the petition^ And when 
my brother? Just when he saw it going without him. He 
will not deny, but what at J?r.s^, he refused to sign it — that 
he urged such a condition, on the ground that it would in- 
duce a great many to sign it, &c. 

Now within these prison walls — in ray fallen, disgraced 
state — I present to you this picture of sectarianism. — It is 
a true one. God grant that you may heed it— and shun it 
as you would {\\e mai k of the Beast. I know the conse- 
quences to myself, if this is made public. A thousand 
sectarian tongues, (as I before said,) wili instantly emit 
their poison. My sin, will be the covering for all this. — 
The great fear of countenancing licentiousness, will be elo- 
quently talked of — but as this talk flows from their lips, I 
wish you to look a little /ow?er, and you will see Archippns 
lying in their bosoms, nourished and fed — and so far as the 
minister is concerned, southern churches clasptd heartily 
there too, with all the licentiousness of slavery! But to re- 
turn — here^ is the under current^ which, if you recollect, I 
spoke of, in giving an account of the doings of Archippus 
and his party in the church. I early saw it. I was writh- 
ing under it, when 1 wrote my address to the people of 
Pawtucket — and this accounts for some allusions in thnt 
address. Time developes things; and what would not then 
14 



158 

have been believed but by a few, is now more manifest. — 
These persons, at an early date, aa I before said, com- 
menced a close intimacy with some of Archippus's partv, 
as well as himself; and things moved on in harmony, until 
last September, when Archippus's party made a proposal 
for the church to join the denomination! I say his party — 
for, notwithstanding the church consisted of about two 
hundred and fifty members, yet only eleven voted to join. 
1 mean male members. But they were not received. No, 
some things were evidently, too glaring; and notwithst^nd- 
inof the indefatigable labors of this man, who has been so 
intent on my bunishment , with those who have acted with 
him, the case was postponed another year. I know there 
are members in that church, that abhor such proceedings. 
So far from laboring to banish me from my home, they 
have manifested tovvards rr:e, kindness and christian con- 
duct. I love and honor them. Nevertheless, I have 
drawn a true picture. If all are offended with me, I can- 
not help it. 1 fully believe the time will come uhen many 
persons in Pawtucket, will see the friUh of what I say — 
and when they will be convmced that it was not for '' my 
transgression," that such powerful efforts were made to 
banish me — but that with other causes,lhere was this " ?//2- 
de?^ curreni^^ of selfish sectarianism, moved on by the fear^ 
thai 1 should rise again. Nor let any one think, that this 
sectarianism, is confined alone, to the persons here alluded 
to No, it stalks through the land — bearing the name of 
religion — yet tearing in pieces, and stamping under its feet, 
almost all which is lovely, among the people of God. God 
hasten its overthrow! 

Your ^Affectionate Brother, 

RAY POTTER. 



J 



159 



LETTER XXI. 
Providence, (in PrisojiJ Dec. 21st, 1837, 
Mt/ dear Brother : — 

The question is often anxiously asked, in re- 
spect to myself: '* Will he ever rise again?" In giving my 
own views on this question, I wish to understand what is 
tncanl by it. If, the meaning be, *' Will he ever rise in 
the estimation and fellowship, ofthe present professed chris- 
tian r>ro^r7A?^zrt/zo/i" — the answer is ready. No! ne\er: but 
in all probability, will sink loicer and lower! Now, the 
way for me to have arisen in this sense, would have been 
to turn sycophant — profess repentance, not only for my 
sins, and transgression, by which I fell, but, for the truths 
'which I have toid, in days past, in respect to sectarianism 
and many other things. Also, I must cordially embrace 
the Popish doctrine ofdoiiig penance; and, the fundameii' 
<<//'principle so jjrevaletit. '' Tliat it is a sure sign that a 
ni?ia is impenitent, if he speak the truth in respect to others. 
Besides, I must never open my mouth against any of their 
d )gmis, maxims, or conduct; lunvever ALti-Christian and 
unscriptural iN^ow, (iad forbid, that ever 1 should seek 
to rise in the estiiuation of man. by pursuing .s/^c/i a course 
as this. And l)y tiie grace of God, all may rest assured, 
that I never shall. l{ this is what is meant by the ques- 
ti')n, I think a!l may set their hearts at rest, both friends 
a.il foes, that I nevpr shall rise ! And as to the remark 
which I ma le, that I should sink lower and lower in their 
estimation, I think you will infer the same probability, 
when you consider the eflTect, which the little truth, had 
ii:)0}i them, contained in my ^^ address to the people of 
Pavvtucket." You know how they declared, that it sunk 
me in tfieir estimation. What then will be the consequence 
if you pul)li;h these communications! Can you not calcu- 



160 

late? Surely, I shalMiavo eraced from their minds the 
last relict of hope, which they may have entertained, that 
I should, in their view, (;ver become penitent. Is it hard 
to conceive, that every selfish sectarian, that takes this pub- 
lication into his hands, \\ill look at its pages, tlirougli his 
prejudiced, Sectarian wns(7iifi/ing glass ? All oftl'e truth 
which it contains, he w\\\ cover up iviih mji sin: while, 
most diligent search will be made for imperfections: and, 
if they dixe found, they will be sounded out, uith an em- 
phasis of thufider. But i\\^ greatest wonder of all, among 
these people, who so admire the 6\st Psalm, and the 
preaching of Peter after his fall, will be, that 7, alter my 
great sin and fall, should undertake thus to speak — even 
if what I have said is true. This, in their estimation, will 
be unpardonable: and consequently, their wraih \\'\\\ come 
upon me to the uttermost. If ridicule, will not ans^ er; 
and they find ihe developements which I have exhibited, 
are likely to gain a place in the public mind, I have no 
doubr, but the utmost exertions will be made iu other wa\ s, 
to utterly crush me. I have already felt some ofiUe pturt^r 
of selfish sectarianism, as I have shewn you; and I know 
how to expect its mountain weight upon me. These are 
my views about smking lower and lower in tiie e.-timalii-n 
of the present professed christian organization as snch: — 
and, in view of it, some may be ready to ask ine with sur- 
prise, why I pur>ue a course, that Will, in mt/ moii (ipin'fi\ 
result in such consequences to myself. I would answer: 
that for fifteen years or more, I isave had light upon the 
present state of the profesi^ed christian organization, that 
I have not fully lived up to. I did indeed, tnaninalif/ 
stand aloof from it, jn some respects, but m other respects, 
I virtually supported it. I could not bear to lose niy rep- 
utation entireli/, with {{wS'.e great sects, and their ministeis 
and supporters: — and, seeing within tlxir borders, many 
individuals o( gve?ii woxih ^ndi merit, I strove vainly to 
serve two masters. That is, to be an Anti-Sectarian partli/, 
and partly not. Well, uhat was the issue! It seems to 
me thut I hear the voice of God, coming from the awful 



161 

scenes which I havd passed through, sjDeaking like tliis— 
* You loved your own reputation so well, that you would not 
be faithful to the light which I gave you; but clurig to the 
suburbs of Babylon; the mother of Harlots. Behold, I have 
now left you io fall into such disgrace, that those very sects 
and denominations, whose approbation you were so fearful 
of losing, will now spurn yo'j from their company; for fear, 
you will ffisgrace iheml You are now throivn off from 
them: but how differently from what you ever expected! 
with broken bones, accompanied with the loss of your good 
name entirely.' Well, dear brother — I praise God for all 
of this. Better, far better, do I esteem it, thus to be thrown 
from the parapets of Babylon; even at the expence of 
hrolan bones, than to perish by and by within her walls, 
airjjdst the crash of hei towers, and Anti Chrisiian bul- 
warks. T'hfi/ must come down. God has spoken It. And 
eliail /, now, after all tlis, try again to gain an admittance 
within her gates .^ No! God preserve nje. 

Multitudes, I believe, there are, connected with the 
present sects and parties, who are real christians; and, 
many of tliem, are grieved to tl»e heart, in view of the pres- 
ent Anti-Christian state of things, and vvish to see things 
reformed: — but, mark the general mistake. They seem 
to be expectiuif that BABYLON will be reformed. Now, 
there is no such promise in the word of God: Babylon, is 
to be destroi/ed: not reformed: and the word from heaven 
is, ** Come out of her mij people^ that ye be not partakers 
of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.*' The 
present professed Protestant denominations, may try to 
confine Babylon, here, to the chvreh of Rome — yet, it avails 
nothing, witi» the candid Anti-Sectarian, who looks at the 
present organization, in the light of God's word. Having 
this view of things; ahhough, as I have before said, I have 
been thrown ojfi'rom the present organization, at such an 
expense, I am, notwithstanding, content to remain separate. 
Yt>a, it is my choice and mt/ joi/ — and be assured that I tefi 
you the truth — that I would not be placed hack a^ain, in 
thi^ respect, for all the praise of man which 1 enjoyed be- 



1G2 

fore my fall, and a thousand times more: nor, shtill 1 liesi- 
tute, by the help of (iod, to do my duty, in s/jnaJchur (,f 
these thins^s^ though [ sink a thousand times lotrcr than ever, 
in the estimation of Sectarians. Wiih me, the Rulucon in 
passed; althouf^h in a ^trnmrc and mi/sferutus mantur: — 
and, from henceforth, I am an irreconcilable opposer to tlie 
present organization — as such. I doubt not, but God has 
many, very many people connected with it: — indeed, if it 
were not so, how could he say concei niug Bal»ylon, ** come 
out of her my people."* But as for the organization itself^ 
1 most solemnly believe it to be Jlfifi-Chrisfian — and that 
it never will be amended^ but be destroyed ! We must loidc 
for a new order of things : — and for the people of God to 
take a Ftand, vvhere tie .suprrnutcy of the Bible ^ will he 
acknowledged in all thin is O h'>.^ 1 used to p:mt f(»r such 
a state of thintrs: but siiil, I would not break away from 
ail entanglements, and stand tbt re. I greatly desired some 



* This is a point, vvhicfi, I think, is too much over-l()ol<od 
by many, who oppose the present state of lhin«rs---they «re 
too apt to unchristianize ail contjecled vvith it. It r)U^htever 
to be remembered, that real cluistians, in such cases, may l)e 
involved in a connection with jjreat errors. Look at Ketnpi.s 
Fenelon and Lady Guion. Who with christian candnr, can 
dispute their piety? Yet tliey lived and <lie<i in communion 
with the Catholic churcl). Is it necessary, in order to coti- 
fierrm the abotninations of that chureb, at ti»e period at which 
they iivexl, to {\e[\y 'hat these individuals were christians? I 
think not :---and on the samk PRfNciPi.E, [ have never leir it 
necessary, in order to condemn slavery, to take the stand, that 
^o christian can now be connected witli it. Real reli^t^inn, 
liiay consist vvitti great blindness, in respect to some particular 
subjects. Look at Peter; and see liis l)lindness, and Iradilion- 
ci) prejudice, in respect to the Gentiles, even Jifter the day of 
Fenticost, and after l»eing filled vviih tlje Holy Ghost I But 
here i« the point. When a real (diristian's mind is im.i/^ji> 
N4TED, and called up to any snl^ject, and he sf.f.s it to lie sin- 
ful h*^ WILL NOT LIVK AND OIK 1 1\ ITr--hiit tlsc hyjiocritv will, 

it'll serves his selfish ends: and here lies tiie (lifl»*ieiice be- 
tween them. 



163 

ono to take tl'e lead, t used to tiiink mnch of one man, 
fliat I hoped would go before lue in such a work. Hut 
'* curst d is he v\ ho maketh fiesli his arm" — as h^vpiy as Ihat 
man is — he loo stopped at the half-way house; and I have 
been thrown upon the ground, which 1 longed to see him 
and others occupy, (tiat J might come after them,) by this 
dreadful ureck! Well, by the grace of Go(J, here will f 
stay until death — and you may remnnbcr, that it is not be- 
yond the power of God, to make my fall, and the posiiion 
in which [ am placed by it, instrumental of the commence- 
ment of a great and glorious work in dt-pelling Bab\loni>h 
nnsts, that now obscurer the glory of God's Israel! O how 
siJiely would lie secure all the glory to himself, by so do- 
ing — and how it would mnsh tlie viper bead of self esteem 
to atoms, for any one to stand with nir on this ground! — 
" Every mountain s' all be mide low, and the LORD 
ALONE SHALr. Bi^ KXALTKD IN THAT DAY " 
All of our moral reforniers, almo>t, have gr)t something- 
more lo do, than they ever have done yet, if they wdl do 
the whole work of God, /)/////. They have got to cease 
frou) trying to reform Babylon, and must rnmc out from her: 
and bow unreservedly to the teachinc^ of God, by his word 
and spirit in all things. 'I'hus much, for my viev\s of rising 
again in the estimation and fellowship of the present orga- 
nization. BjU another answer might be given to this ques- 
tion — ^* Will he rise again?" [ lully believe that i am now 
full as high in tkdr estimation, as the whole truth of God 
is!! Of this, I have no doubt. Why, then, should I de- 
sire lo rise hifrfier in the estimation of man, than the whole 
truth of God? Ah, tliin has been my sm, and consequent 
calamity: — and \ believe it to be the great sin, which, at 
this moment, keeps thousands back from duty. Yes, rriy 
brother — let any man in this nation, who now posseases 
X\\e fairest reputation with men, take the whole truth of 
God: — f)reaching it and practising accordingly; and he 
will not have travelled many leagues, before he will be 
willing to exchange reputations with jnt., without any ap- 
piehensiuu oi loss! Of this ^ 1 say again, 1 have not ikt 



164 

Irnsf flnhbt. Did Jesus maintain a better reputation with' 
the Jews, than the penitent [)rostitutes that he parduned, 
and took into fellowship? No — nor so good a one. Ami- 
slavery men^ have hardly be^^an to he besmeared vith the 
ndinm. which they would be, if they were to conje out for 
the truth in all Lhinsrs : — for it is beyo[)d dispute, in my 
own mind, that if any of their number were disposed to do 
so, three quarters at least, of the rennainder, would turn 
upon thern with downright opposition. The views which 
J here present, u)ay appear strange, but 1 believe thenj to 
be true. O my brother — when will God raise up a minis- 
try, who wiil be wiiling to live and die by the ir/iule truth, 
let what will be the consequences? 1 believe the time is 
at hand — and here I can hardly resist the tem[)tation of 
tr.mscribing a few lines, which, alihou^^h the poetry is noth- 
ing better, perhaps, than what is termed '^ flogrel rhy/ncs,^^ 
yet some of the sentimenf^, have often thrilled througli my 
soul, attended with cheering etrjotions — : 

*'The tioie seon is eorr)inL% !»y t'le Propfjets foretold, 
'' When Zion in purity, ihe worM will liehohi ; 
^F->r Jesus' puie TRSTrMOM, uiil gain the day, 
'* Denomination selfishness will vauisli away. 

*• It will then be diseovereii, who for Jesus will he, 
" And who are in Balylou, the sairjts then will gee; 
"The line of division, then will fully l)e known, 
" lietween the pure kingdom, and defilM BABYLON. 

"What beauty the church will then wear in the light, 
"Ail governed l)y Jesus, who always leads right ; 
" No spot iu her coimtenan<'e in that gloriou* day, 
** Unnecessary ceremonies vanish away- 

*' But O, what a Ftorm of persecution will rage — 
*" Fu the cause of old Bahylon, too many engage; 
** Beholding their loss, a»i(l thu> beuining to sink ; 
"They'll hope to obstruct the light iVoai spreading, I tifiuk. 



165 

" Rut tnitli ruts its way, txud love will melt down its f ^es ; 
*'Tlie PURE WORD OK Goi), will coiiquer all who o|>pu^^e; 
"The church stariH in f)urity. in peace and in love, 
"In sight of her enemies, she iises above." 

My dear brother — T wish to repeat, that I have the ful- 
lest confidence, that the present organization udl never 
be reformed; but will grow worse and worse, unhl the 
judgments of God sweep it away. Why then, should tho.^e 
who have their eyes open, to see the present state oi thiriirs, 
as 1 believe many have, spend their time and labor in f uit- 
less toil, and thus have the whole, irorsc than losf^ to the 
cause of God and truth Will thev suffer the thoughts of 
the p opcrtij, vvhich tl-ey have invested m various ^^ays, to 
supp >rt the present organization, to hinder them? They 
ought to remember, that the primitive saints, took joyfully 
t'ic spoilino' of their goods for the sake of truth. It is nf>t 
likely, that during the lives of the apostles, a single meet- 
ing house was built, for the especial accommodation of 
Christians — and. no marvel, if those who shall comp> se the 
army, that will be finally instrumental in leading the church 
out of the wilderness shoubi be reduced to similar circum- 
stances No doubt Babvlon will hold on upon all the 
property if possible, and selfish sectarians will cling to it 
like b'/r/f.acies to the bottom of an ohi condemned ship, af- 
ter the valuable cargo is removed in apprehension of her 
soon going to the bottom: — but will ihose who have eyes to 
sre, 'tarry on the plain,' on the account of property which 
they have to leave in the hands (S their opposers if they 
fie.e? But the loss of reputation — fhai is the Lrreatest pinch 
after all. Well let them think of my dreadfttl fall, and 
take warning in view of the truth so clearly illustrated by 
it -viz: — " That he who wiil save his reputation shall lose 
it!" Let them speedily come down into the valley oi'hu- 
miliati n lest with a terrible stroke they are '* knocked 
down." 

/ remain most nifecttnndtcJ;! F'//r>% 

KAY rorrKu. 



166 



LETTER XXII. 

Providence, (In Prison^) Dec. 28th. 18;i7. 
31ij dear Brother : — 

Before I close these comniunicalions, I wish 
to call your attention once more, distinctly, to what I have 
so often already alluded — viz: the meagre^ imperject and 
vnscriptural views, that generally prevail of the gospd of 
Christ. It appears to me now, as plain as day, that there 
is a great chasm in the preaclimof and theological writing, 
of the present day; occasioned by not proinineiitly holding 
up Christ crucified — or the great and glorious doctrine of 
the forgiveness of sins through the atoning blood of the 
Lord Jesus. Much has been said and written, o/i the 
perfections of God the Father — and well said: but, in re- 
spect to the office work of the Son, as Mediator, Redeem- 
er and Savior of sinners, there has in my estimation been 
a great failure, in properly holding him up to view. Al- 
thougii, it ought to be admitted, that on son»e otiier points 
of theology, there has been much ^ained^ as it respects 
clearness of exii'.bition, within a husidred years; }ei, in 
respect to this point, of yv?7y/r/////,^ J^su.< and thron;Lih him 
the forgivenCv^s of tins, there has, 1 tiiiiik within that time 
been a great and soul chil'i.ng failing oiT. JVow, we are 
commanded tt) honor the Son as we honor the Father. Me 
IS '• the way th(^ truth and the life." '* No man can come 
unto the Father but ihrongii his atoning blood." ** 'I'licre 
is no other name given under heaveii nor among njen, 
whereby w^e can be saved but the name of Jesus." 'J'he 
lac. most certainly ou^ht to be held u[) to view — and its 
righteous cliims insisted upon: and all of the perfections 
of (jJod, as Creator and Governor of the moral and natural 
wond pi evented to the niit:ds of men: — but^ all o^ this may 



167 

be done and slill, the great doctrine of the atonement — the 
cross of Christ, be kept out of sight. The fact is, we are 
a world of sinners'^ and, we need not only to be made bef- 
ter, or, to be l^rought from a state of sm and unholiness,to 
a state of holiness, in order to be saved; but, we netd the 
forgiveness of our past sins, or the justice of God must for- 
ever shut us out of heaven Some, seem to think, 
that what is meant by preaching Christ is preaching that 
men ought to reform or amend their ways by following the 
example of Christ, &.c. That men ought to amend their 
ways and become Christ like; and that they must do so in 
order to be saved, is most evident: — and that \f we separute 
this work, from the forgiveness of sins, in the plan of salva- 
tion, we run into the depths of Antinomianism is true — 
yet, is this all? Must not our past sins be forgiven in or- 
der to our salvation, as well as for our hearts to be made 
better? Most surely : — but what is the g?wimd of this for- 
giveness? Why surely the sufferings and blood of Jesus. 
Now tlie regenerating or making us hob/ is the oifice work 
of the Holy Spirit — the third person in the trinity ; but 
the forgiveness of our sins, or our jnstijiration is through 
the office work of the Son — as Mediator — as our GREAT 
SACBIFICE for this purpose; acceptable to God. I do 
not mean to intimate, that the work of the Spirit is too 
much insisted upon.* No; nor so much as it should be, 
but, that the great atonement — the forgiveness of sins, 
liirough the blood of Jesus, has to a fearful extent, been 
\eh out of sight. Now unto Christ crucijied for sinners, 
all the sacrifices under the law were pointing: and, indeed, 
by the offering of sacrifices he had thus been preached 



* The whole chiirch of God, need to awake to this subject 
also— I mean of the out-pouring of the spirit of God. Tl)«i 
meagre views and unbelief, which generally prevail respeciing 
it, are truly affecting, and must be grievous to God. I be- 
lieve thai God svill yet shew those that are considered, and 
may consider themselves, the great and mighty among hia 
pr^^Vessed people, that he will introduce the latter-day-glory, 
Dot by their *• ajight nor strength, but by bis spirited power. 



1G8 

from tlic day of Abel to his appearance in the flesh. After 
hy thus made liis appearance, he himself made tins the 
prominent subject in his public ministry; and so did the 
Apostles. ]No one can candiclly read the new Testament, 
and be ignorant of this. Jndeed, t/iis was the import of 
the Coinmis^-ion— ** And that REPENTANCE ANDRE- 
MISSION OFslNS SHOULD BIC PREACHb:D IN 
HIS NAMfc} among all nations beginning at Jerusalem." 
How well the Apostles and primitive preachers understood 
this commission, you can but perceive in reading the acts 
of the Apostles and the Epistles. They constantly thus 
preached Jesus. No sooner was Paul converted than he 
began to preach Christ; and so com[)letely was he wedded 
to this blessed doctrine, that he told the people that he 
would " Know nothing among them save Jesus Christ and 
him crucified." Now my brother, can you not see, that 
there is at the present time and indeed since you have be- 
gan to notice preaching at all, a great, a lamentable lack 
touching this infinitely injportant subject — this verysow/of 
the gospel? I think so; — and it shews the Phariseeism of 
the age. And here, J wish to call your attention to one 
ssnbject which needs attention. In all the movements of 
moral reform at present going on — such as the Anti-Slavery 
— I'emperance cause See. not one of them necessariit/ 
brings into view this doctrine of the forgiveness of sins. — 
For, observe : the Temperance advocate in his lectures 
^^Hflemtis the sin ofdrukenness — and persuades the drunk- 
ard to reform — which is all right — ^just as it should be : — 
but, then, he says nothing about the forgiveness ofh'is past 
sins. Now, although the drunkard do reform; yet, if he 
do not ohi'din forgiveness of his past sins, through the blood 
of Jesus, he must after all go down to hell! So also witli 
the Anti-Slavery lecturer— the Moral Reform lecturer Sfc, 
Well, what shall we do.^ Stop condemning these sins and 
cease exhorting those who have been guilty of them to re- 
pent? God forbid; but insist on these points more urgent^ 
(v than ever: — but mind, here is the point : — While the de- 
mands of the lata are insisted upon, condemning slavery, 



169 

intemperance, licentiousness &lc. let the gospel way offor^ 
giveness a!so, be presented — for, if you do not do this, if 
jour preaching has oni/ effect, it will be almost certain to 
turn the transgressor from his former course, of open trans- 
gression into a .se//' r/^A^eows Pharisee — and by pursuing 
this course of preaching the Jaw, (and uoX fully preaching 
it neither,) and leaving out the gospel doctrine of forgive- 
ness, has the present generation, in my opinion, drifted 
away from the great ** Ensign" — whose " rest is so glori- 
ous," I mean Jesus, the sinner's only hope, into the 
" gulph stream" of Phariseeism! I believe, my brother, 
that this is the true state of the case — which will ere long, 
be confessed by the people of God, let them think as they 
will of me. Now, although, reforms in respect to differ- 
ent moral subjects, are so loudly called for, yet we may 
reform, and reform until the day of our death, and leave 
out the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins, through the 
b!ood of Jesus, diud all that will be gained by it, will be to turn 
out black devils and take in white ones! — and that the white 
ones are the most dangerous, is evident, from the expres- 
sion of Jesus to the Pharisees — telling them, that Publi- 
cans and Harlots shoald enter into the kingdom of heaven 
before they. With all of my looking at moral and relig- 
ious subjects before my fall, I never once thought of this 
great und radical defect, which now appears so clear to 
me. Nor do I know that it has awakened the attention of 
any one in these days. Depend upon it, God will have 
his son honored in dying for sinners. Unto Jesus, every 
knee must finally bow — and we ought ever to remember, 
that his blood is as valuable to every soul, that finally is 
ever saved from this fallen world, as hell, with its unutter- 
able, eternal torments is dreadful. And will God own us, 
if this corner stone of the whole gospel building, is left in 
the back ground? No, he will not. Now I was brought 
to believe in Jesus more than twenty years ago — and, al- 
though I ever maintained the theory of the forgiveness of 
sins through his atoning blood, yet I greatly failed in re- 
spect to a /iwc/y sense of its importance^ and very much 
15 



170 

drifted wit!) the self-righteous current of the a^e; but when 
1 come to fall, as I have done, and to be looked upon, not 
merely as a tKnninal, but a rtr// sinfier, then was I led to 
conttmplale this subject, as I had never iiabitually done 
before, and my eyes were opened, to see the great depar- 
ture from tlie primitive mode of preaching Jesus, whi<h I 
have in the course of these communications so frequently 
called your attention to. A certain person in the City of 
New York, greatly engaged in the difierent subjects of 
moral reform, when conversed wit!) respecting this point, 
not a long time since, made the striking remark — '*That 
it was possible that oiost of us have got our religion to 
learn over again" — and I say my brother, that one thing 
must be learned by the most eminent reformers of the 
day — viz: That if they do not honor the SON of God, as 
the SACRIFICE — the propitiation for our sins, in all of 
their movements, God will not honor them. This my fall 
has brought me to see — and who knows but what that is 
one thing, which infinite wisdom had inyiew in permitting it. 
/ remain most affcctionatelt^ Yours, 

KAY POTTER. 



ILETTERXXIII. 
Providence, (In Prison,) Feb. Gth. 18^38. 
31 1/ dear Brother : — 

Many reflections in connection with my fall, 
present themselves to my mind, which I have not yet ad- 
verted to; nor can I but briefly glance at some of them — as 
these communications have already been protracted be- 
yond my anticipations, and perhaps beyond the bounds of 
your patience in the perusal. I wish, however, to call your 
attention to two or three other points. 

And first: — I think, that by my fiall, a severe blow has 
been inflicted upon what may be termed, Phrenological 
pride. You know, that at the present time, the science of 
Phrenology ^ is receiving great attention in this country, 
and multitudes are exceedingly enamored with it. Now 



in 

I do not pretend to condemn the science iiself — or, a prop* 
er use of it, 1 think it mai/ be correct, in ascertaining 
what, in my homely phraseology, may be termed, the nat- 
ural disposition of persons. It may be thought, that in my 
case, the Phrenologist shot wide of the mark, in respect to 
my native conscientiousness. But, as I have before inti- 
mated, if every thing could be known, in respect to the cir- 
cumstance connected with my fall, I am persuaded that all 
candid persons would acknowledge, that though some of 
his expressions are too strong, yet they are generally cor- 
rect. Indeed, there are some things in connection with 
this awful conflict between the flesh and spirit — between 
conscientiousness and warring passion, which, if stated, 
would undoubtedly, receive but little credit — and the prob- 
ability is, that I must lie under the imputation all my days, 
of being guilty of some things, of which the light of eter- 
nity will prove me innocent. But let that pass. It is not 
the science zV^e//, or, a proper use of it, against which I 
would bear testimony — although, as I have once and again 
intimated, 1 woujd not vouch for its correctness. But the 
use which is generally made of it, I greatly fear, is most 
pernicious to the spiritual welfare of mankind. I think 
that where it is believed, and heartily entered into, 
by those whom it gaiters, with what is termed, good de- 
velopements, it affords the most ample nourishment to self- 
righteousness^ of any thing which floats upon the sci- 
entific waters of the present age. Those, who as I said, 
are flattered by it, will be almost sure, without an abun- 
dance of grace to prevent, to substitute their good HEADS, 
for good HEARTS! The truth is, that cveri/ pcrs( n in 
the world, before regeneration by the spirit of God, has a 
heart entirely sinful — "deceitful above all things, and des- 
perately wicked." No matter what the natural dispositioi^ 
for generosity, conscientiousness, &c. is — the \\^^^i isi 
wholly corrupt — not only destitute of holii^^ss, bvit jull of 
evil. But how difficult to bring piien into (ho belief of this? 
And how sure are they to fc^ujld on what I term, the uatiU- 
ral disijositiouy as something that will avail them, in the 



172 

sight of a holy God, instead of perfect holiness, and the 
atoning blood of Jesus? And here is the danger of the 
use, which I fear is frequently made of Phrenology — it 
feeds this disposition, and consequently helps men on to 
destruction! let them look at my case and beware! — 
Surely, if any one might build on their Phrenological char- 
acter, I might be allowed some hope on that score. But 
what does it avail me now for justification in the sight of 
man ? mnch more in the sight of God. Let all rest assured, 
that a fine Phrenological head^ will avail them nothing in 
the eternal world; but if they die without new hearts, and 
justification through the atoning blood of Jesus, they mu^t 
be forever lost — while many a converted thief, adulterer 
and murderer, through the grace of God, will shine in the 
New Jerusalem as the brightness of the firmament, and 
the stars forever and ever. 

You may now more clearly see the propriety of my pre- 
senting to your view, in a former communication, my Phre- 
nological character. As I have already said, one promi- 
nent object in these communications, is, to aim as fatal a 
blow at self 'righteousness as I can: — and what can be more 
effectual in killing it, so far as means are coricerned, in 
those who are proud oftheir Phrenological characters, thafi 
10 look at mine, and then to think of my fall! 

Another subject, which f cannot forbear to mention in 
connection with my fall, is the developemt nt of Cd n'zntion 
hearts^ possessed by many pretended opposers of that 
scheme. You know what I mean by Colonizationism: — 
that scheme which was invented, and still is zealously ad- 
vocated by many — that the colored man, ought not to le 
permitted to dwell in the same country with the whites, on 
terms o^ equality: ai]d from hence they musr^t be co!nniz(d 
in J^jrica, There is no doubt, but what [nnde ar.d wicked 
prejudice, are the main spring of this systerr. \\ illiam 
Lloyd Garrison, has most successfully attacked it. It njay 
be difficult for you to conceive, how sensibly I have hern 
made to feel the satne principles, applied to me s'nce ny 
fall — and this too^ by multitudes of professed abolitionists. 



17S 

They would say they could forgive me — but then they 
wanted me a great way off — I must leave the country — 
tl.ey did not want me near them — -and in short, 1 must be 
COLONIZED. Never before, did 1 know how to feel 
for the poor colored man— nor never before, was I so fully 
imbued with Anti-Slavery principles. I am shunned — 
scorned — and trodden under foot, as much as they are. — 
But the excuse is, I have sinned Yes, there must always 
be some prete/ice for justification, in the exercise of such a 
spirit. So had the prodigal son sinned — )et when he was 
a great ?vmj off, his father ran and met him — fell on his 
neck and kissed him — and brought him into /lis house;— 
was this colonizing him because he had sinned? This is 
the way that Gcd de-d\s with tiiose, who, however they 
have been degraded, return to him, and implore his for- 
giveness — 1 ask again, does this look like colonization? — 
Tlieir excuse 1 say, for colonizing me is, I have sinned. — 
Well, have not they sinned? According to their own the- 
ory then, they must all be colonized, far away from the 
presence of Gody and the holy Jin g els ! Perhaps they will 
be ready to say, that my theory is good, but it will not do 
to reduce it to practice. So say the pro-slavery folks, in 
answer to abolitionists! And does not the abolitionist re- 
tort — '' It is most absurd, to talk of a good theory ^ that 
would be bad in practice ?" It is often said, by those who 
are determined to degrade the negro, because of the color 
of his skin — that he, (the negro,) does not wish to associ- 
ate on equal terms with the whites? I understand the 
reason now, as I never did before. He feels all the while, 
as if the proud white man, is burdened with his company. 
No wonder that he had rather be by himself, than be in 
con)pany, that is burdened with him, and ashamed of him. 
So say 1 — and from hence, 1 greatly desire, that none will 
come near me, nor invite me near them, who would thus 
be burdened and asiiamed. A respectable colored man 
from Boston, being in London, called on a family, with 
whom^he !iad been acquainted in this country, — as it hap- 
pened^at the moment, the family were at breakfast. After 



174 

getting through eating themselves, the woman q^iost hypo- 
critically feigned, that she had forgotten to ask the colored 
man to breakfast, and complacently asked him, if he would 
not take a cup of coffee, '' i thank you madam," replied 
the slighted colored man, ^' I am engaged this morning to 
dine with the Prince Regent!" My dear brotlier — since 
these great opposers of colonization have colonized mc — I 
trust I have many a time, feasted with the Prince of glory, 
and in his palace, I hope to dwell forever! I will only 
add, that the course pursued towards me, has been remark- 
ably calculated, to hinder others from an honest confession 
of sin. The gracious God holds out the greatest possible 
encouragements, to those who humhly confess and forscke 
their transgressions. Look at the admirable parable, of 
the prodigal son. Here is an illustration, of the inn'vfvsa! 
conduct, of our gracious and merciful Heavenly Father, 
towards all returning, confessing and imploring sinneis — 
Behold what a contrast between the couduct of God, and 
the conduct of man, in my case. Not only have I been 
visited by the mob with vengeance, under the cloak of 
shewing indignation at my siri^ when it is evident, they 
were only lettir.g loose their wrath upon me, on account » f 
my previous religious course, but, I have no d' ubt but some 
high official characters, in their proceedings against me, 
have acted on the same principle. If I should give a his- 
tory, of the \vho\Q judicial diX\^ legislative proceedings, in 
relation to my case, together uith my imprisonmeiity as I 
think f may feel it my duty yet to do, I assure you, that 
there would be a developement of most astounding facts, 
going fully to establish the point. You know that the grand 
objection, with some of the members of the Legislature, for 
granting my petition for liberation was — my time was not 
out — they were afraid of interfering with the decisions of 
the supreme court — and yet they liberated a prisoner frtm 
the same cell in which I am confined, nine months before 
his time was outt I rejoiced in G^ d that he was liberated; 
yet, It shews that the reason, which they pre'mdcd to give, 
was not the true one. Some of them uere honest eiK.unh 



175 

to give the true reason — they were inexorable towards me^ 
because I was a minister! Thus you see them legislating 
against a man, not in reference to his crime, but in refer- 
ence to his religious views. It may be said, tbat this makes 
the crime, or sin the greater. It may be — but, not in any 
way the civif authorities can recognize it as such.. Have 
the civil authorities any thing to do with a man's religious 
views in the punishment of crime? or in legislating against 
him? If they have, then vice versa — they may with the 
same propriety, le^islciie a bounfi/ to men, on the same 
principle; and indeed, support ministers by law. Is this 
the pretended theory of Rhode Island, in Judicial and 
Legislative affairs? But this principle has been openly 
adopted by some. I have their names: — and it all goes to 
prove, what 1 have befjre, again and again asserted, that, 
the severity of the proceedings against me, has not been 
for ^' my transgression." No — but on the same principle 
that Shimei cursed David, and the Philistines put out Samp- 
son's eyes. Were they horror struck, because of Samp- 
son's transgression, in his connexion with Delilah? No! 
ihey were glful of it f for, thereby they had got him in 
their power. But their hatred to him was, because under 
divine direction and influence, he had slain a thousand of 
their number with the jaw bone of an ass, and otherwise 
made havoc among them So in my case, in respect to 
thousands of my most inveterate opposers, in high and low 
places. It is not the sin that grieves them — hut I verily 
believe, they are GLAD OF IT; for by it, they think they 
have got me in their power! God strengthen me ere I 
die. But how magnanimous was the conduct of many 
members of the Legislature, when compared with such a 
principle of action? And the magnanimity of some, was 
the more conspicuous, from the fact that before my fall, [ 
had much opposed their course. A number of the mem- 
bers used great exertions for my liberation. I shall ever 
remember them, with humble gratitude. May God bo 
mercifid to them, as they were dis})C)sed to shew mercy to 
me. You have no doubt, learned, that the hst vote on 



176 

liberating me, was a tle^ by tbe Speaker's voting against 
me. How it was untied, I know not, as 1 am ignorant of 
Parliamentar)' rules. 'Hiis hist vote, uas on the petition 
of my wife After the rejection of my petition the day be- 
fore, to be liberated on the tirst of March — she went home, 
and without my knowledge, wrote a petition for herself — 
and determined on carrying it into the Legislative hall.~ 
Great handle was made of her appearance there, by those 
whose turn it served, to raise prejudice ag; inst my libera- 
tion — and much was said by the Sprakej* and others, re- 
Sjx^ctii^.g the ir being so muci) troubled with my petitions. — 
But my brother, ali vvJio hnaily get to heaven, will have 
learned, that in order to obtain jnercy, we must be impor- 
iuiKftc. But with all of our importunities, mercy was de- 
nied me and my family. 1'here is a passage of scripture, 
which sometime or other, will be (bund t:ue by every per- 
son, Jiigli and hnc, who cuntimics unmerciful, to their sor- 
row. '' 'I'hey shall have judgment without mercy, who 
shew no mercy." Nevertheless, i think 1 see the goodness 
of God to me, in overrulincr this determination, to inflict 
the last jot and tittle of vengeance upon me. If 1 had been 
liberated bef(M-e my sentence expired, there v\ould have 
been anoth.er pretence for further violence — but now, after 
having been spurned from the feet of God's professing peo- 



* Yet this same Speaker, was very earnest for granting 
tlie petition of Archippus'^ party, for an alteration of the Char- 
ter of the socfETY, by which a lar^e portion of the church 
that were friendly to m^, wouhi be thrown out of propertf, 
wiiich the Legislature had given them the privilege to pur- 
chase and hold. lie need not go much further, to raise a sus- 
picion, that he descended from the dignity of a Legislator, and 
become a mere partisan, in the difficulty exi.'-ting in the so- 
ciety ; and wns wiiliug, no*, ordy to insist on carrying things 
to the very extremity, in respect to n»y imprisonwieni, but to 
inflict EXTRA vengeance on me and my (riends, by legislating 
awiiy their property. First make a law, injpoweriug per- 
sons to l)uy property, and then nuike a law to tear it from 
llicm, without cou pensation I I ! But this was loo bare- 
faced : and I understood that Mr. Speaker stood nearly alone 
in this aitcnjpr. 



177 

pie— after having been mobbed in almost an unparalleled 
manner — and after having suffered to the very extent of 
the law, i?np?^isonment, the person, who after all this shall 
assault me, will write DEMON legibly on his own fore- 
head. 

But finally, I ask you, if the great extremity to which 
things have been carried towards me, after confessing my 
sin, and humbling myself before God and man, is not con- 
trary to the conduct and commands of God? and ca culated 
to hinder persons from making an honest confessioii? [ 
cannot say that I am flisoppointed. I expected that all 
would be done, that earth and hell could effect, to utttirly 
destroy me. Nevertheless, 1 determined, in full view of it, 
to make a confession. I would advise all to do the satne 
If I had been disposed to have lied about this afTair, i sIk u d 
have denied the wJiole at the onset — and I think that the 
prospect was as good, for my being credited in such a de- 
nial, as most of men: — for, indeed, many v^ould hardly be- 
lieve the fact, offer my ami ronfessifni. But. 1 am not a 
liar. That is n(;t u\y character. 1 am not a hypocrite- — 
I appeal to G< d: and let t!iose who thus accuse me, pre- 
pare for a final settlesnent of these p'>ints, befjre h s a-^- ful 
bar. THE FINAL RECKONING IS YET TO 
COxME! 

Your ^^jfectionate Brother^ 

RAY POTTER. 



LETiERXXiY. 

Providence, (in FrisunJ. Fkb IOth, I8;?8. 
Ml/ dear Brother : — 

You may have expected, that 'n the commu- 
nications which I have been making you, 1 should have 
spent more time in warning others to bew are of the sin 
by which 1 have fallen. I would a?k you what I can sai/ 
that will equal the .s/^^/// of the c^//^/5/n>,>A for effect. If 
at the foot of a prcu-ipice you sre an incaiitioiis traveller, 
by his i'oUy and wickedness da.>hed in ruins, will an .■./y///{>;7 



on his folly be more moving to your feelings — more con- 
vincing to your judgment than the sight of the wretched 
man groaning in the most excruciating agonies; if perad- 
venture, life be not already extinct? No! and if the spec- 
tacle which men have before them in my '* great and 
dreadful fall," will not induce them to watch against the 
*' lu^^t of the eye" and the very beginnings of sin which 
lead to such awful results, then nothing which 1 can saj/ 
will avail any thing. No; nor would they hear though 
one should rise from the dead. 1 will therefore close 
these communications. You well remember, with what 
seriousness, as long ago as last May, you advised me to 
write. 1 knew of no way in which I could comply, so well 
as to adopt the method which I have here taken. I wrote 
a little and lingered: — for, a thousand discouragements 
growing out of my peculiar situation seemed to rise up be- 
fore me. After I was thrown into prison, however, 1 felt 
clearer in my mind to communicate to you those views 
which I have now presented. As I have already hinted, 
my object has been to make //.sc of myself and the circum- 
stances connected with my fall, to exhibit truth — and truth 
too, which it seems to me is almost buried out of sight by 
the Phariseeism or self righteous spirit of this generation. 
If I know my own heart I am not fightmg exclusively my 
own battles. In pursuinir the course which appeared to 
me the surest way to make truth appear glorious by con- 
trasting it with enor^ I have been obliged to speak of the 
errors of others, as well as my o?rn This, has caused me 
much pain: — especially in portraying the conduct ot some 
individuals, members of the church of which 1 v^as foruicr- 
ly pastor. But I saw, that I must do it, or the develope- 
ments growing out of the whole, so important to the cause 
of truth, must be lost — and the doctrine of selfish expedien- 
cy in opposition to christian duty left to triumph. These 
persons boldly took their stand on this doctrine — refused, 
after many entreaties and warnings to renounce it, but 
seemed to l)id defiance to the power of truth to move them. 
\N hat could a lover of truth do in such a case but to du as 



179 

I have done? I knew of no other way. 1 bear them no 
ill will. I write not from a spirit of malice or revenge. I 
wish well to all. I pity my worst enemies: with unfeigned 
pity — and I adore my Savior that lie gives me a disposition 
to love and pray for tliem. I desire that you may do the 
same. I hope that you will harbor no wrong spirit towards 
those, whose conduct in the course ofihese letters has 
been shewn to be inconsistent with the commands of God 
and spirit of Christ. I hope a number of them have been 
partakers of the grace of God; but they have been bewild- 
ered by the doctrine of expediency. Let us pray for them, 
that they may be delivered from this snare of the devil. — 
And now my dear brother would I again remind you that 
in writing uhat I have, I have not been unmindful o{ my 
own great sinfulness. No! a sense of it constantly attends 
me. Words can never express the overwhelming anguish 
of soul which 1 have experienced in view of my great 
transgression. If it were not for a commensurate view, 
which I have of the infinite mercy of God, through the 
atoning blood of Jesus, I should be instantly buried in 
deep and hopeless despair. Nor do I feel humbled in 
view of this one sin alone. No — I see many things, in my 
past life, which deeply affect me with sorrow. As to the 
stand which I have taken in relation to the various causes 
which 1 have advocated, I feel no condemnation — but 1 
have not advocated them as I ought. I feel greatly con- 
demned that in my reproofs there was not mingled more of 
the spirit o^ compassion for transgressors. I too much in- 
dulged in wit when speaking of solemn and sacred things. 
I have spent loo much time in the streets conversing on 
that which profited not and have been far too much en- 
gaged in poring over political papers— -the contents of 
which are frequently deleterious to piety in the soul. I 
greatly erred and sinned in making my religious visits so 
disproportionate — visiting more than I ought at some pla- 
ces and greatly and sinfully neglecting others. If it were 
possible, I would personally ask forgiveness of every per- 
son tliat I have ever injured or grieved: and nothing, no 



180 

nolhing would afTord me ^rreater satisfaction than to make 
all, four fold restitution. So lur as I can be heard, i de- 
sire to say to every person young and old wlio has evi r 
seen (plight in my christian walk incompatible with the 
Cf>mniands of God — 7 sincerrlif rcpettt , do forgive me, I 
know my wiindcrings have been .iiany, my sins numerous 
and great. I /(taf/tcihem-, not because I (ear thai for them 
I may sink to hell, for I feel that God has forgiven me of 
all my iniquities: — hut 1 loatlic them because they have 
been committed against a Good God, have injured his 
cause and my fellow men. As it is not probable that [ 
shall ever see all again on earth who have formerly known 
me. r wish most sincerely if this communication is publish- 
ed that all persons whose eyes shall rest upon it will con- 
sider themselves here addressed personally and individual^ 
lij : and are requested to hear my voice from these lines 
crying to them — I rtpenf^ forgive me. 

My dear brother — God knows that I speak the unaffect- 
ed feelings of my hearty the real sentiments of my soul. — 
Already have I *' laid my body in the dust" — and there I 
remain. I^et it be well understood, I take not the ground 
of a denial, extenuation, and palliation of my sins. No — 
God forbid — but with the most sincere confession — with 
the most hearty repentance, and with the fullest determin- 
ation to sin no more, 1 throw myself at the feet of Jesus 
depending alone on the mercy of God through his atoning 
blood. I rest alone on the great and merciful doctrine of 
forgiveness. I have no other hope — but, in this position I 
have hope. I should be hypocritical to deny it. 1 cannot 
say as an Irish orator said, in view of death — ' that he was 
shielded from the fear of it, by a consciousness of his o vn 
rectitude;' but I can say, that in view of death and judg- 
ment, I am shielded by the promises of God, to save the 
cliief of sinners, who forsake and repent of their sins, and 
believe with all their hearts, on the Lord Jesus Christ. — 
Unto such, God says — " Though your sins be as scarlet, 
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like 
crimson, they shall be as wool' — this is my shield. Unto 



181 

such, God says — '' I, even I, am HE that blotteth out thy 
transgressions, for mine own sake, and will not remember 
thy s'lns^^— this is mi/ shield. Unto such, God says — "I 
have blotted out as a THICK CLOUD, thy transgres- 
sions, and as a cloud thy sins: return unto me, for I have re- 
deemed thee" — this is my shield. Unto such, God says — 
•* He forgiveth all thine iniquities, he healeth all diseases;" 
and that " the blood of Jesus Christ, his son cleanseth from 
all sin:" and what does a poor sinner need more, to shield 
him from the wrath of God, and the accusations ot men. 
This, is my hope. I repeat it; and on this foundation, laid 
in Zion for the hope of the guilty, do I rest my poor, guilty, 
bruised, heavy-laden and weary soul. You cannot but 
see, my dear brother, that those who put their feet on me 
here^ put their feet, not on me, but on the^rca^ atonement — 
the glorious gospel — the blood of the everlasting covenant! 
1 stand with the despised, penitent, publican — the penitent 
thief-— Manassah, David! God says, in respect to such 
as turn away from all of their sins, and keep all of his stat- 
utes — " All his transgressions that he hath committed, 
THEY SHALL NOT BE ONCE MENTIONED UN- 
TO HIM" — this is my shield. Unto this strong tower — - 
loathing all sin, and breathing after the perfect image of 
God, do I resort, and feel that I am safe. But if the test 
of penitence be, that because I have sinned myself, I must 
necessarily be insensible to the sins of others, then have I 
no penitence. For, although I feel myself io be the chief 
of sinners, yet in proportion to the deep 5c//loathing, which 
I feel on account of my own sins, my moral vision is bright- 
ened, and I can but loathe sjn, let me see it where I will: 
and, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh: 
but, you know, that the sweeping evidence, which some 
have brought against my being penitent, is this very thing : 
and you can but see that the legitimate inference of the 
doctrine, is, that no man who has ever sinned liimself can 
rebuke his neighbor, without giving infallible proofs that he 
is himself impenitent ! If this doctrine is true, then 1 am 
impenitent. I want no such penitence as this implies. J 
16 



182 

believe there is no real penitence in it. Hatred of sin, 
will never induce its approval in any shape or being. — 
These are my views, dear brother, of penitence. Such 
penitence, as induces loathing of sin in myself, and where- 
ever I see it, 1 trust I am exercised with. 1 am conscious, 
that from henceforth, I shall he "numbered with trans- 
gressors." I aw a transgressor. I am ashamed of my 
transgressions. I niourn over them. O that I could do 
good to my fellow-men I am no Antinomian. I acknowl- 
edge the moral law of God, to be most righteously ^binding 
upon me. That every transgression of it is a sin, that de- 
serves eternal punishment ; yet, las fully believe that 
*'God can hejust, and the justifier of him that believeth 
in Jesus." The most of pr ear hbig^ which I have ever 
done since my fall, is to talk of the great Savior ^ to three 
or four prisoners, with me in this loathsome cell. For a 
long time after 1 came here, I did not get confidence even 
to do that. 1 supposed that they looked upon me as self- 
righteous professors do — and i determined to keep silence. 
But God seemed powerfully to impress my mind, to pray vo- 
cally with them, and to persuade them to seek Jesus. — 
With what readiness did they listen! O what a pity it is, 
that there are no more, to feel and act for the poor, outcast 
prisoner. While the proud and Pharisaical, rolling in 
worldly ease and honors, reject the message of salvation, 
1 believe there are many in prisons, ifproperly dealt with, 
who would hear with grateful hearts. O how grace will 
shine, in bringing such to heaven. I hope ere long, 
through the mercy of God, to be delivered from prison, 
and to have the pleasure of laboring with my hands for 
the support of my afflicted family. 1 was doing so, when 
carried to prison. Two things I desire — first: not to visit 
where 1 should be a burden, nor secondly: to urge those 
to visit me, who would feel disgraced by my company, — 
From hence, I keep much alone. 1 cannot express to 
you, the sense which I have of your brotherly kindness, 
to me, in my disgraced and wretched condition. I have 
views of the designs of God, in respect to me, which I will 



183 

not here disclose. Of one thing am I sure, that in theeno 
my fall will be a loss instead of a gain, to satan and hid 
children. God will glorify himself, and ultimately perfect 
his church in holinesss and happiness: and what can I de- 
sire more. Although 1 have greatly sinned — greatly wan- 
dered and fallen, yet the great day of eternity, I am fully 
assured, will satisfy all of my former friends, that may not 
be satisfied before, that in respect to the mam thing — my 
being a child of God, thei/ have not been deceived in me. — 
No my brother — I have not been — I am not now as many 
would make me to be — root and branch a hypocrite. It 
has been said by some, that I had better let others say 
this — but I feel as if I must here once more inscribe it, 
and that too for eternity! I believe you will readily admit, 
that my life has been marked with extraordinary vicissi- 
tudes — and but few perhaps, have suffered more — but one 
thing in the close, 1 wish you to distinctly understand — 
that I do not think hard of God: or that I have suffered 
more at his hands than I deserve. God forbid. So far 
from such a state of mind, I feel that it is infinite grace 
and mercy alone, that has preserved me from an eternal 
hell. I feel that the rod has been good for me: that by 
it, I am brought nearer to my God, and delivered from the 
power of sinful propensities, which hitherto, have greatly 
burdened, perplexed and hindered me, in the service of 
God. Not that I have already attained perfection in holi- 
ness, but I press forward for the mark of the prize, of the 
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In heaven at ^last I 
hope to rest my weary soul! There dear brother, I hope- 
to meet you; and all the '* sanctified host of God's elect:" 
and join them in saying, '^Salvation to our God which sit- 
teth upon the throne, and to the Lamb" — forever — Amen. 
1 rtmain most affectionately Yours^ 

RAY POTTER. 



APPENDIX. 



THE FOLLOWING ARE MR. POTTEW& 
FIRST CONFESSIONS^ 

To the dear Church formeidy under my care. 

I dare not address you as brethren; not but what I ^qqI 
confident that I am a Christian, but because what I have 
done, will place me in such a light, that you would be un- 
willing to own me as a brother. I have sinned, I have 
fallen! Six months ago, I committed a great sin — temp- 
tation had followed me Ten Yearst and in an hour of 
distraction with temptation, I did that which has thrown 
me from my standing, as a minister of the Gospel, into the 
depths of reproach and shame, in the sight of God and man. 
After committing this sin, 1 earnestly sought forgiveness 
of God by humility and repentance, and have I trust found 
it freely — and as I did not know what the effect of my sin 
was, 1 continued my religious duties, in hopes that it would 
never be known, to bring such a wound upon the cause of 
God, and shame and disgrace upon me and others. But 
God has ordered it otherwise, and it is therefore my duty 
to make a confession, as public as will be my sin. It will, 
I know, appear strange, that I have appeared to enjoy re- 
ligion lately. But a sense of my sin. brought me down, 



*As these confessions were only at first, desig-ned for the 
neighborhood where the scene took place, the sin which was 
adultery, is not named. 



t According to James 1 ch, 14 verse. 



186 

and God condescended to bless me. But as was the case 
of David, so with nrie: after God put away his sin, he suf- 
fered it to come to light, and he was sorely troubled on 
account of it. It is impossible for me to express my an- 
guish. At some future time, I shall express myself more 
fully. I only now say, that I humble myself before you as 
a Church, and every individual. 1 confess my sin. Do 
with me as seemeth good m your sight. If it can be 
thought consistent with the glory of God, I beg a place as 
a private member of the church. But if not, let God's 
will be done. If I might plead as a beggar, I would say, 
have pity on my poor family, have pity on ^*** **^#**^ 
I must be overwhelmed in disgrace. I deserve it. I 
complain not, let what will come. God is glorified in my 
degradation — injthat I have comfort. I want to get a place 
to go to work with my hands, for my poor family. If any 
of you could find any woik for me, i should take it as a 
favor. I write no more. 

The most of this was written two days ago, but I was ad- 
vised not to make it known unto you, thinking the case 
might not be as it was feared. But being now satisfied, [ 
lose no further time. O God, I submit to thy awful re- 
buke, to let hell rejoice over me for a season. I bow un- 
der the dispensation without a murmur. 1 would fondly 
hope, that it may be a warning to all to resist temptation. I 
have been followed by this temptation more than ten years, 
and at last I fell! And I fell by not watching and praying 
as I oucrht. I ask forgiveness of God, of you, of the peo- 
ple in this place; of all the world. 

RAY POTTER 

If you would not consider me as trying to palliate my 
sin, I would add, that I never pren.ediated doing what i 
have done. Read this in public. 

P S. I hope the cliurch will clintr together— hue one 
another — God will send you a preuclier — uniil van get 
one, be content with conference nieetiuirs. O if I niay 
but have the privilege of seeing you bles^rLd; and ringing 
your bell — making your fires 6co. 



187 

To the First Baptist Church in Parvtucket. 

Will you hear the confession of a wretched sinner? I 
have sinned and fallen- 1 fully believe, that I was truly 
converted years ago. I honestly engaged in trying lo 
preach tlie gospel, but I have now sinned, and plunged 
myself into the deepest degradation, and wounded the 
cause of God in a most awful manner. I have lor more 
than ten years, been harassed with unutterable temptations 
to indulge in this sin Passion, like the subtle charmer, 
has kept drawing me to it; 1 have resisted and struggled; 
but after all I have given away — this took place nearly six 
months ago; after it I felt unutterable anguish. \ hu.n- 
bled myself before God, and 1 trust found forgiveness; in- 
deed, I felt to enjoy his fa\or, and as I did not know what 
the effect of my sin was, I kept along \^ith my religious 
duties, in hopes that it never would appear, t(» wound the 
cause of religion. But as God has otherwise determined, 
I make public confession of rriy sin; this 1 did to the 
Church of which I am a member as soon as I knew the 
fact. When I look at it myself, I feel willing that God 
should glorify himself in my dowiifall, and a comfort that 
he is able to honor himself in my ruin; but when i look at 
the cause of God, at his children and at poor sinners, who 
would stumble over me into hell, my anguish is unuttera- 
ble. But with my ruin, I feel deliverance from the power 
of that passion, which so lung has raged, aiid finally over- 
come me. 

1 confess my sin to you, in the deepest anguish of my 
soul. 1 am sorry, I repent, O 1 repent, I ask forgiveness 
of the people of God; f ask forgiveness of the people cf 
this place! I never expect to open my moulh again by 
way of preaching. No, but my life must be spent in con- 
fession. T can truly say, that I feel as willing to have pub- 
lic condemnation, as once i did public praise. 1'ruth re- 
qnires me to say 1 never premeditated tMs sm. But I have 
done it, I offer no palliation. Do with me as seemeth good 
in your sii^ht; only remeuiber that 1 humble myself at your 
feet. God pity me, a poor, ruined man. 

RAY POTTER. 



m 

Tliere being a faw pages of the last form not filled, some 
of Mr. Potter's communications to his friends, during his 
imprisonment are here inserted. 

In Prison, Nov. 1st. 1837. 
Beloved Brethren and Sisters: — 

My mind is often exercised with a most in- 
tense desire — a desire which begorars all description — to 
make amends for the injury done others, by my sins and 
my fall. 1 sit here in prison, and ruminate — how gladly 
would I give them money if! had it — although I know this 
would not fully recompense them. Yet it seems as if it 
would afford me inexpressible satisfaction, to deal out to 
them temporal blessings. 1 used to feel but little solici- 
tude, to possess this world's goods. I now greatly desire 
an abundance to give away. But alas! so far from being 
able to do that, I am dependant, under God, for every 
mouthful of food, on others. But God knows my heart. 
He knows the sorrow of my heart, for my sin against Mm, 
and the injuries I have inflicted on others. He knows how 
gladly I would make amends, if possible. He knows that 
there is not a person on earth, that I would injure — and 
that I would do good to my most bitter enemies. There is 
one way, in which those who have been injured by me, 
may turn it into one of the greatest blessings — and that is, 
by shewing me mercy; by forgiving me. What an oppor- 
tunity for them to act like Jesus, and to become surely in- 
terested, in some of his most precious promises — '* Blessed 
are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" — '' Forgive, 
and ye shall be forgiven." I must live on grace alone. — 
From God and man, I must live on grace. The longer I 
live, the greater debtor am I. Surely, if ever grace ap- 
peared to be grace, in the salvation o^ any sinner, it must 
appear so in my salvation. O how great and multiplied 
are my sins. But God hath said, (hough they be as scar- 
let, tuey shall be as white as snow; though they be red 
like crimson, they shall be as wool. Yes, I trust that he 
blotteth out my sins as a thick cloud. 

RAY POTTER: 



189 

Providence, (In Prison^) Dec. 8th. 1887. 

My dear Brethren and Sisters : — 

'* The angel of the Lord encampeth round 
about those that fear him and delivereth thenn." Wliat a 
glorious, precious, and comforting assurance is this — but 
not more so than true. You have found it so. Did not 
God deliver you last summer and fall, from the hand of the 
violent, and from those who, if he had not preserved you, 
would have swallowed you up? Yes, praised be his name. 
He hath delivered and doth still deliver you as Paul said. 
I believe he will make you a name and a praise in the 
earth — and that he will lift up your heads above all ofyour 
enemies. Be constant, beloved, and he will demonstrate 
in your case that *' it is better to trust in the^ Lord than to 
put confidence in Princes." Let others ^trust in public 
sentiment — in popular favor — in large denominations — in 
splendid meeting houses — in rich and large churches, but 
let us ever remember the NAME of the Lord our God. I 
look upon you dearly beloved, as the excellent of the earth 
— a royal Diadem of our God. You seem to me very much 
assimilated to the character of those saints in olden time 
who wandered in goats skins and sheep skins and in dons 
and caves of the earth of whom the world vvas not wor- 
thy. O think of them now! dwelling in the holy city in- 
stead of dens and caves of the earth — in the presence of 
God and the Lamb! singing with holy Angels and rejoic- 
ing with joy unutterable. think how soon you will be 
with them if you are converted to God. O Glory, ulory, it 
fills me with rapture when I think of it. And can Je.-us 
save me? Yes he is sufficient to save even me — thou<>h 
such a great sinner — though the chief of sinners — Jesus the 
friend of sinners — Jesus the friend of sinners — O tune the 
harp to his praise ye friends of his — adore him — praise him 
— exalt him — love him — cleave to him and serve him for- 
ever. Dearly beloved, abstain from fleshly lusts that war 
against the soul. Remember my dreadful fall and be for- 
ever warned. Love one another in the truth — be holy — 



190 

be spiritual. Bear one another's burdens clear brethren. 
I think much now of my dear br(»ther ****. Let all pray 
for him. The Devil hates him no doubt and he will in va- 
rious ways try ia frighten him as well as to decoy him — 
Pray to G'^d for him — be mutual in your prayers. O the 
worth, tlie injinite worth of prayer. As often as you can, 
let two or three go away together, and pour out your souls 
before the Lord. As for myself, I have support from God. 
He has been better tome than all of my fears. O, his 
mercy to me since my fall has been higher than ihe clouds. 
Don't for ({et mc in xjoiir prayers, I sometimes hope to be 
of great use and a lasting blessing to the church of God. 
You know that God is able to bring this about. Have faith; 
walk by faith; and trust in the Lord forever, for in the 
Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. It is worth all which 
1 have suffered, to see such friendship exhibited as has 
been by my dear friends since my fall. O what Christ like 
friendship. How it binds my heart stronger and stronger 
to you. 1 pray God to put it in my power to do you all 
great good. O I thirst for this. Pray that [ may have 
this privilege. You are all poor ; you have trials no doubt 
respecting your temporal concerns; but O, remember that 
the eye of God is upon you; your Heavenly Father know- 
eth that ye have need of all of these things. No good 
thidg will he withhold from you. Make known your wants 
to God. How blessed it is to enjoy conmjunion with Jesus. 
Seek this above all things. The hearts of all men are in 
t e hand of God : \N hat a glorious thought ; Remember 
it, and remember that prayer moves that hand O Glory 
to the infinite condescension of the great God ; he listens 
to the prayers of mortals; yes, to your j)rayers. O pray, 
pray my dear precious friends in Jesus. What great 
things God may do through me in answer to your prayers. 
1 will try to meet you this night at the throne of God's 
grace. Yuur brother, in tnhiilotion ; 

RAY POTIER. 



191 

^^ Thus saith the Lord God, behold 1 lay in Zion for a 
foundation^ a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, 
a sure foundation." 

I have often thooght of this passage — often quoted it, 
as you have no doubi heard me, and 1 have preached from 
it — but still, I know not that it was ever so applied to my 
soul, as within a few days. How true it is, that the spirit 
of God alone, can open scripture to our understanding, and 
apply it to our profit. Glorious foundation for a poor sin- 
ner. When the law thunders condemnation from Sinia 
to him, on account of his numerous and aggravating sins, 
and seems ready to sweep him down to hell, he flies to 
Christ, and finds in him a foundation, adequate to support 
his soul. Yes, '' God can be just, and the justifier of him 
that believeth in Jesus*" ''The blood of Jesus Christ 
his son, cleanseth from all sin." "Thanks be to God for 
this unspeakable gift," this sure foundation. When Satan 
accuses us, we fly to this foundation and find support, — 
When self-righteous Pharisees point at us, and call us sin- 
ners above all 7nen, we say — God be merciful to us sinners, 
and rest our souls on Christ. This foundation. After 
all which can be thrown on me, by those who would sink 
me in despair, on this foundation I rest; and find support. 
I have no other refuge — no other hiding place — no other 
shield — no other rock of defence — no other horn of salva- 
tion — no other rest. Christ is all, and in all, and enough 
for my soul. In his death, and the shedding of his blood, 
the justice of God has its utmost demands, and if I am in 
him, I am covered from wrath. The eternal storm cannot 
fall upon me. thanks be to God, for this foundation — 
laid in Zion, for poor sinners to build their hopes upon for 
eternity. Other foundation, can no man lay: and whoso* 
ever buildeth on it, shall not be ashamed — shall not make 
haste? This foundation, is indeed, a stumbling stone, and 
rock of offence, to the self-righteous; but it is elect and 
precious, in the sight of God, and all true believers. O 
what comfort I have this moment, in resting my weary soul 
upon it. Dearly beloveds — fly to it, and you shall not be 



192 

confounchd. Sin shall not do it — Satan shall not do it — 
selt^-righteous Pharisees shall not do it — wicked men shall 
not do it — crosses shall not do it — disappointments shall 
not do it — persecutions shall not do it — prisons shall not 
do it — death shall not do it — no: nor the awful judgment. 
Precious foundation; sure foundatiow; broad foundation; 
deep foundation: everlasting foundation. Come, let us 
magnify il together — let us rejoice together — for through 
Christ, we are made more than conquerors over all our 
foes. Salvation, O the joyful sound! Sing, sing praises, 
praises to our God. Worthy is the Lamb, that was slain 
to redeem us. O wlial love — what grace — what mercy — 
what long-suffering — what condescension — what kindness; 
what preserving power is displayed towards us, by our 
gracious Redeemer. Everlasting praise to him. Glory, 
Glory, Glory. 1 feel happy in the God of my salvation. — 
O it seems to me, that I can almost unite with angels 
around the throne, in praising and blessing God and the 
Lamb. Pray to him, for he will hear you — Amen. 

RAY POTTER. 
In Prison, December 16th 1837. 



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